Georgia Petition for Temporary Letters of Guardianship of a Minor (GPCSF Form 28)

Life can be unpredictable. There are times when a parent may need to temporarily delegate care of their child to a trusted relative or family friend — whether due to military deployment, medical treatment, incarceration, or other circumstances. In Georgia, the proper legal mechanism for this is the Petition for Temporary Letters of Guardianship of a Minor, using the official court form GPCSF Form 28 under O.C.G.A. § 29-2-5.

What Is GPCSF Form 28?

GPCSF Form 28 is the Georgia Probate Court Standard Form used to request temporary guardianship of a minor child. It is filed in the probate court of the county where the child resides. The form gathers essential information including the child's details, the proposed guardian's qualifications, the parents' status, and the reasons temporary guardianship is needed.

A temporary guardianship under this statute lasts for up to 12 months for a single petition, though extensions may be available. It grants the guardian authority to make decisions regarding the child's education, healthcare, and daily welfare.

When Is This Form Needed?

Common situations where a Georgia family might need GPCSF Form 28 include:

• A parent being deployed overseas with the military
• A parent entering a medical or rehabilitation facility
• A parent facing incarceration
• A grandparent or relative caring for a child whose parent is temporarily unable to do so
• A parent giving written, notarized consent for a relative to serve as temporary guardian

Why Does Georgia Law Require Notarization?

Georgia law is explicit: all petitions for temporary guardianship must be signed before a notary public or probate court clerk. This requirement, found under O.C.G.A. § 29-2-5, serves several critical purposes:

• Identity verification: The notary confirms that the person signing the petition is who they claim to be, preventing fraud or unauthorized filings.
• Voluntary consent: Both the petitioner and any consenting parents must sign under oath, ensuring that the arrangement is truly voluntary and not coerced.
• Legal accountability: Signing before a notary creates a sworn record. False statements in a notarized guardianship petition can carry serious legal consequences.
• Court integrity: Probate courts rely on the notary's seal to verify that the petition was properly executed before accepting it for filing.

Additionally, if one or both parents consent to the temporary guardianship, their consent must also be in notarized writing and attached to the petition. Many probate courts, including Gwinnett County's, state plainly: "All signatures must be notarized before scheduling an appointment."

How to Get Started

The official GPCSF Form 28 can be downloaded from the Georgia Probate Court website:

Download GPCSF Form 28 — Petition for Temporary Letters of Guardianship of a Minor (PDF)

You may also contact the Gwinnett County Probate Court at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 for further guidance on filing requirements and fees.

Need this document notarized? Find a trusted notary in your area on Notary of Gwinnett.