Unpublished policy from the Fresno County Probate Court Investigator’s Office

We recently filed a petition for guardianship of a minor. The grandmother requested guardianship of the person of her grandson. The minor’s father had died, and the 8-year-old minor was living with his mother in Fresno. Our client had substantial contact with the minor before his father died, but was cut off from all contact by the child’s mother. (The parents had filed for divorce, however, the father died before a divorce judgment was granted.)

As required by law, the court investigator spoke with the parties. The investigator then informed the court in a written report, “When a child is not in the care of the petitioner, it is not our policy to recommend a guardianship.”

To my knowledge, this local policy is unpublished and is not part of the Local Rules of court, but it is cited as authority by the investigator’s office.