Michigan Temporary Guardianship of a Minor

What Temporary Guardianship Covers

Temporary guardianship in Michigan gives a relative or other responsible adult legal authority over a minor child for up to six months. It's governed by MCL 700.5213 and handled in probate court — the same court that appoints full and limited guardians.

The temporary guardian has the same powers as a full guardian during the appointment period: authority over the child's care, custody, education, and medical decisions. The difference is the clock. A temporary order has a hard statutory cap of six months and cannot be extended. It's designed as a bridge — protection for the child while the full guardianship petition moves through the standard process.

When It Makes Sense

Temporary guardianship fits situations where you need court-recognized authority quickly but the underlying family situation may still be evolving:

• A parent entered a 90-day treatment program and needs someone with legal authority to handle the child's school and medical needs during that time
• You've taken in a grandchild after a crisis and need to file for full guardianship while the court processes background checks and notice
• A parent is incarcerated and hasn't designated anyone to care for the child
• The school year is about to start and you need legal authority for enrollment before the full hearing

If the situation is urgent, ask the court whether an expedited hearing or notice is available.

Filing Requirements

Under MCL 700.5213, the court may appoint a temporary guardian after a full or limited guardianship petition is filed. Ask the probate court how to request the temporary appointment. The underlying petition uses the applicable forms:

• PC 651 (Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor) for a full guardianship, or PC 650 (Petition for Appointment of Limited Guardian of Minor) plus PC 652 (Limited Guardianship Placement Plan) for a limited guardianship
• PC 571 (Acceptance of Appointment)
• PC 670 (Minor Guardianship Social History) — confidential, sealed by the court
• MC 97 (Protected Personal Identifying Information)
• DHS-1929 (Central Registry Clearance Request)

The filing fee for the underlying petition is $175, or you can request a waiver using MC 20 if your household income qualifies or you receive need-based public assistance such as FIP, SNAP, or SSI.

Notice must be served on all interested persons: each parent whose parental rights have not been terminated, the child if 14 or older, any person who currently has care and custody, the proposed guardian, and any current guardian or conservator. Personal service must be completed at least 7 days before the hearing; mail must be postmarked at least 14 days before.

How It Differs From a Power of Attorney

A power of attorney (POA) under MCL 700.5103 is a non-judicial document that a parent signs voluntarily. It delegates parental authority, except the power to consent to marriage or adoption, for up to 180 days and can be revoked by the parent at any time. For a parent serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and deployed to a foreign nation, the delegation may remain effective until 31 days after the deployment ends. No court involvement or hearing is required.

Temporary guardianship is a court order. The parent doesn't have to agree to it (though consent makes it simpler). Once the court issues the order, it can only be modified or terminated by the court — the parent can't unilaterally revoke it. This makes temporary guardianship the stronger option when there's any doubt about whether the parent will cooperate or stay stable.

The tradeoff: a POA can be signed before two witnesses or notarized, without a court hearing. Temporary guardianship takes a court filing and hearing, and the court may require background checks or an investigation.

Planning Ahead for the Full Petition

Because the temporary appointment is capped at six months, the full or limited guardianship petition must continue toward a final decision during that period. If the temporary appointment expires first, the temporary authority ends.

When immediate authority is needed, file the applicable guardianship petition — PC 651 for full guardianship under MCL 700.5204 or PC 650 for limited guardianship under MCL 700.5205 if the custodial parent or parents consent — and request a temporary appointment while that petition is pending. The court may order background checks or an investigation as part of the case.

The Michigan Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide maps out this filing sequence step by step, including which forms to file and how to keep the temporary appointment from expiring before the court decides the underlying petition.

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