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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Lisa, Guardianship may be more difficult for your client if you anticipate a contested proceeding. You may want to look at a third party child custody proceeding. A third party child custody proceeding will be awarded to grandparent if it can be shown the parents are unfit or it would be “detrimental to the child” to live with the parents. The third party child custody matter does not terminate parental rights. But the grandparent as third party custodian has court authority over the custody, finances, and personal care of the minor. I have negotiated a visitation schedule of a child with his or her parents in third party child custody matters. You also need to address child support if necessary. In a guardianship, a GAL will be appointed. In third party child custody matters, a GAL is not typically appointed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Good luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Very truly yours,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Maureen A. Wickert, Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><img width=192 height=48 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CFF9D1.C8360BE0" alt="Business card for email"><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>14900 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 255<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Tukwila, WA 98168<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Phone: 206-859-5502<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> Fax: 206-260-9005<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <a href="http://www.wickertlawoffice.com/">www.wickertlawoffice.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> <a href="mailto:wickertlaw@comcast.net">wickertlaw@comcast.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'>This electronic message contains information which may be confidential and/or legally privileged. The information is intended for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this transmission is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify me by telephone or by email immediately.</span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lisa Schuchman<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, November 06, 2014 2:21 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Off-topic referral - guardianship vs third party custody<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>I have a long-term client who is considering seeking custody with her infant grandchild. It will probably be contested by the parents. She needs advice on the choice between a guardianship and third party custody in the context of a contested action. Any help? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'>Lisa E. Schuchman<br>206-325-2801<br><a href="http://www.lisaschuchman.com/" target="_blank">www.lisaschuchman.com</a><br><br>Education is what you get when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get when you don’t. -Pete Seeger</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'> </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'>NOTE: I do not use encrypted email. Messages sent to or from my office via email are not secure and may not be protected by attorney-client privilege. This email address is not monitored at all times. If your matter is urgent, please phone my office during regular business hours. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'>Any tax advice included in this document and its attachments was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code.</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green'>P</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:green'> </span><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#008100'>Please consider the trees before printing this document</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>