Guardianships

The care and upbringing of children is the natural right of parents and their primary duty. The state community watches over their activities.

If the parents do not fulfill this duty or do not fulfill it in the best interests of the children, the state must ensure that the children are protected.

In certain cases, the parents are no longer able or permitted to exercise parental care by law or by court order. They are replaced by a guardian who exercises parental care.

Guardianship by court order

The pilgrimage town of Kevelaer has transferred guardianships and trusteeships to the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen (SkF) im Kreis Kleve, Turmstraße 36a, 47533 Kleve.

Guardianship by operation of law

• As the locally responsible youth welfare office, the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer becomes the legal guardian of a minor mother's child upon its birth. As a minor mother is not entitled to legally represent her child at the time of birth due to her lack of full legal capacity, the child requires a guardian.
• Legal guardianship also exists when the relinquishing parents declare their consent to the adoption. Parental custody for the period of the child's adoptive care until the effective adoption decision is made is transferred in full to the guardian.