Tutela de un menor: preguntas frecuentes
Temas en esta página:
- Tutela de un menor
- Petición de tutela de un menor
- Orden de tutela
- Servicios y beneficios sociales
- ¿Se requiere la tutela para recibir beneficios de servicios sociales, como pagos de asistencia social o asistencia médica?
- Si Servicios Sociales emite un cheque de asistencia social a un tercero, ¿significa eso que el tercero tiene tutela o custodia?
- ¿Un niño califica para recibir beneficios del Seguro Social en caso de fallecimiento del tutor?
- Modificación y Terminación de una Tutela
Tutela de un menor
¿Es lo mismo tutela que custodia?
No. Although there can be some overlap in the types of powers and responsibilities, guardianship and custody are two different legal processes with different powers and responsibilities. Talk to an attorney to determine which option is best for your situation. Learn about child custody in Maryland.
¿Es lo mismo la tutela que el cuidado por familiares?
No. In Maryland, a person assuming care of a relative’s child is referred to as a kinship caregiver. Kinship care can be either formal or informal. Guardianship is a legal process where the court appoints a person to manage a minor’s personal affairs, financial affairs, or both. Learn about kinship care in Maryland.
¿Qué pasa si fui designado tutor de un menor a través del testamento de los padres del menor?
Esto se llama tutela testamentaria y es diferente del nombramiento judicial de un tutor. A menos que lo prohíba un acuerdo o una orden judicial, el padre sobreviviente de un menor puede nombrar uno o más tutores (y tutores sucesores) del menor. Para una tutela testamentaria, el tribunal no necesita aprobar ni calificar al tutor.
Read the law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts Article § 13-701
Petición de tutela de un menor
¿Quién es el interesado?
In guardianship cases, interested persons are people affected when the court appoints a guardian for another person or anybody who has assumed responsibility for the minor or disabled person.
Only interested parties can petition for guardianship of a minor and ask the court to address problems with the minor’s guardianship. An interested party also has certain notification rights. Learn more about interested parties.
¿Puede el menor elegir al tutor?
If the minor is at least 14 years old - The court will appoint the person designated by the minor as long as the person is otherwise qualified, unless the appointment would not be in the minor’s best interests.
If the minor is at least 16 years old - As long as the person is otherwise qualified, the minor can designate a guardian of the property. In that case, the court is not bound to appoint that person.
Read the law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts Article § 13-702
Read the rule: Md. Rule 10 - 201, Regla 10-301 (e)
¿El menor tendrá su propio abogado?
A minor can have their own attorney. If the minor is not represented by an attorney, the court may appoint an attorney for the minor. However, there is no strict requirement that a minor have their own attorney or that the court appoint an attorney for them. Whether an attorney is appointed by the court will depend on the specific facts of your situation.
Read the rule: Md. Rule 10 - 106
¿Qué pasa si tengo una condena penal? ¿Aún puedo ser nombrado tutor de un menor?
Unless you can show the court good cause, the court may not appoint you as the guardian of the person of a minor if you have been convicted of:
- un delito
- crimen de violencia
- assault in the second degree
- a sexual offense in the third or fourth degree
- attempted rape or sexual offense in the third or fourth degree,
A crime of violence is defined by § 14-101 of the Criminal Law Article of the Maryland Code.
Additionally, the court may not appoint you as guardian of the property of a minor if you have been convicted of a crime that reflects badly on your honesty, trustworthiness, or fitness to perform the duties of a guardian of the property of a minor. Examples of such crimes include:
- fraude
- extorsión
- malversación
- falsificación
- perjurio
- robo
Lea la ley: Código de Maryland, Sucesiones y Fideicomisos § 11-114; Criminal Law § 14-101
There are factors that the court may consider when determining whether there is good cause to appoint a person with a disqualifying offense as a guardian. Factors include:
- the nature of the offense;
- the time elapsed since the conviction;
- the conduct of the proposed guardian since the conviction
- the relationship, if any, between the proposed guardian and the minor; and,
- any special vulnerability of the minor.
Read the Rule: Md. Rule 10 - 113
¿Qué pasa si el tercero no sabe quién es el padre del menor?
Where the father's identity is unknown, the third party may file a motion asking the court to waive the notice requirement.
The third party will have to provide proof of efforts to locate the father. The court may allow service by posting or publication.
What if the third party cannot find the child’s parents?
Where the parents' identity is unknown, the third party may file a motion asking the court to waive the notice requirement.
The third party will have to provide the court with proof of efforts to locate the parents. The court may allow service by posting or publication. Obtenga más información sobre cómo encontrar una fiesta.
Orden de tutela
¿Qué es una orden de tutela?
The guardianship order is the court order that appoints you as the minor’s guardian. Read this document carefully. The court’s order lists your powers and responsibilities as a guardian. The order also serves as proof to others of your appointment and authority as guardian.
¿Qué pasa si quiero hacer algo que no está incluido en la orden de tutela?
Ask the court for permission ANTES performing any action that is not authorized in the guardianship order. Make sure you ask the court for permission in writing.
¿Dónde puedo encontrar información o capacitación para ser tutor?
La Sitio web de los tribunales de Maryland tiene información extensa para tutores potenciales y designados. Las Reglas de Maryland también brindan pautas para los tutores designados por el tribunal.
Read the Rules: Appendices: Directrices para los tutores de la persona designados por el tribunal, Guidelines for Court-Appointed Guardians of the Property
Servicios y beneficios sociales
¿Se requiere la tutela para recibir beneficios de servicios sociales, como pagos de asistencia social o asistencia médica?
This depends. Guardianship is not required to obtain social service benefits, such as welfare payments. Guardianship is also not required to get Asistencia medica, where the third party is a blood relative to the minor and the minor is living with them. Contact Departamento de Servicios Sociales for assistance in determining to what benefits the minor is entitled.
Si Servicios Sociales emite un cheque de asistencia social a un tercero, ¿significa eso que el tercero tiene tutela o custodia?
No, los servicios sociales no pueden conceder tutela ni custodia.
¿Un niño califica para recibir beneficios del Seguro Social en caso de fallecimiento del tutor?
La tutela no califica a un niño para recibir beneficios de seguridad social en caso de muerte del tutor.
Modificación y Terminación de una Tutela
¿Se puede modificar una tutela?
Yes. A court order modifying the prior order must be entered. The parties can file a consent to the modification, or the court can enter the order after a hearing.
¿Cuándo termina la tutela? ¿Se puede terminar una tutela?
For minors without a disability, the guardianship ends when the minor turns 18, becomes emancipated, or dies. For minors with a disability who turn 18, you or another interested person can file for guardianship of an alleged disabled person. A guardianship of the property can end when there are no more assets in the guardianship estate that need a guardian’s management.
When any of these events occur, you file a petition for termination within 45 days of the event. You can file a motion to terminate the guardianship of the person, the property, or both.
A guardianship can also be terminated for certain other reasons. The parties can file a consent to the termination, or the court can enter the order after a hearing. There are notice requirements for interested parties.
Read the rule: Md. Rule 10 - 209, Regla 10 - 710
¿Se puede destituir a un tutor?
Yes. The court DEBE remove a guardian who has:
- willfully misrepresented material facts leading to their appointment or to other action by the court in reference to the fiduciary estate;
- ignoró intencionalmente una orden del tribunal;
- shown themselves incapable, with or without fault, to perform the duties of their office properly; or,
- breached their duty of good faith or loyalty in the management of property of the fiduciary estate.
El tribunal MAYO remove a guardian who has:
- negligently failed to file a bond within the time required by rule or order of the court;
- negligently failed to obey an order of the court; or,
- failed to perform any fiduciary duty or to administer the fiduciary estate competently.
Read the law: Md. Code, Estates and Trusts Article § 15-112
Una “parte interesada” también puede presentar una petición ante el tribunal para destituir a un tutor.
Read the rules: Md. Rule 10 - 208, Regla 10 - 712
¿Puede dimitir un tutor?
Sí, puede presentar una petición de renuncia ante el tribunal para renunciar como tutor de la persona, de los bienes o de ambos. Su petición debe incluir los motivos de la renuncia. También podrá solicitar el nombramiento de un tutor sustituto o sucesor. Existen requisitos de notificación para las partes interesadas. La renuncia del tutor no pone fin a la tutela hasta que el tribunal emita una orden aceptando la renuncia.