Permanent Guardianship of a Minor
General Information
The Probate Court is located on the main floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (click for directions) located at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046. The office accepts filings Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
All pleadings filed with the Gwinnett County Probate Court by mail must be signed, verified, and have the appropriate filing fees. Pleadings without fees will be returned without filing. Mail all pleadings to:
| Gwinnett County Probate Court Estate Division 75 Langley Drive Lawrenceville, GA 30046 |
In which county do I file my Petition for Permanent Guardianship of a Minor?
A Petition for Permanent Guardianship of a Minor may be filed in the county where a minor is found and where the proposed permanent guardian is domiciled.
Can I file a Petition for Permanent Guardianship of a Minor?
The probate court can only appoint a permanent guardian for a minor if the minor has no natural guardian, testamentary guardian, or permanent guardian appointed by another court.
What is required at the time of filing?
The following documents must be presented or filed with the petition:
- A certified copy of the minor's birth certificate
- A valid state issued Driver’s License or identification card. If you are a Gwinnett County resident and your Driver’s license has an address other than your present Gwinnett County address, additional proof of residence is required in the form of a utility bill, rental lease agreement, etc.
- Proof that the minor has no natural guardian, testamentary guardian, or permanent guardian
- A copy of any document made by a parent of the minor that deals with the guardianship of the minor and the name and address of any person named in the document to serve as a guardian of the minor
The Petitioner(s) must appear in person and take an oath before Letters of Permanent Guardianship will be issued.
If you are filing to become a permanent guardian for more than one child, you must file a separate petition and pay a separate filing fee for each child.
How much does it cost to file the Petition?
Prior to mailing in or filing your petition in our office, please check our Fees page for the current filing fees. All fees are due at the time of filing. The Probate Court accepts cash, credit cards (Visa, Discover, MasterCard), personal check, or money order. A processing fee of 2.5% is charged separately per card transaction.
How do I end a permanent guardianship?
A guardianship of a minor terminates on the day the minor turns 18, is adopted, becomes emancipated, or dies. A court order may also terminate a guardianship.