GC-510 What is "service"? What is "Proof of Service" in a Guardianship? . When you are involved in a court case, you are responsible for delivery ("service") of copies of important papers you file with the court to other people involved in the case. Depending on the circumstances, these papers must be served by personal delivery (called "personal service"), or may be served by mail (called "service by mail"). If you file a petition for appointment of a guardian for a child, you are a petitioner. At the beginning of the case the petitioner must arrange for personal service of copies of the petition and other papers on certain people, must see that these papers are served on certain other people either by mail or by personal service (at the petitioner's choice), and then must show the court that this has been done (called "proving service," or "proof of service"). This form explains what papers must be served at the beginning of a guardianship, who must be served with these papers, how and when service must be made, and how and when you, as a guardianship petitioner, must prove to the court that service has been made. You can find out more about the papers that you must file in another form available from the court, Form GC-505, Forms You Need to Ask the Court to Appoint a Guardian of the Person. What papers must be served at the beginning of a guardianship case? A filled-in copy of the petition for appointment of a guardian (the "Petition"). In a guardianship of the person, this may be either Form GC-210(P), Petition for Appointment of a Guardian of the Person or Form GC-210, Petition for Appointment of Guardian of Minor. Copies of all papers attached to the Petition must also be served with it. A filled-in copy of Form GC-020, Notice of Hearing--Guardianship or Conservatorship, (the "Notice of Hearing") showing the date, time, and place of the hearing on the Petition, including (unsigned) copies of all attachments showing proof of service. Who must be personally served? (You may use this form as a checklist. Check all that apply to your case.) The child who needs a guardian, but only if he or she is at least 12 years old. The child's parents. Any person who has legal custody of the child or is serving as court-appointed guardian of the child's property (the child's "estate"). Any person nominated as guardian of the child by one or both of the child's parents (if your petition does not ask the court to appoint that person as guardian). Any person nominated as guardian of the estate of the child for property received by the Don't serve these by mail! child from the person making the nomination. How do I arrange for personal service? Someone--not you or anyone else who signed the Petition--must personally serve (hand-deliver) copies of the Notice of Hearing and the Petition to the persons named above. Service lets these persons know: That you are asking the court to appoint a guardian for the child named in the Petition. The person you want the court to appoint as guardian (either yourself or someone else). The date and time when, and the place where, the court will hear your request. Who can serve? Ask someone you know, a registered process server, or a representative of the county sheriff's civil division, to personally serve copies of the forms to the persons named above. The forms cannot be sent to those persons by mail. The server must be at least 18 years of age. A registered process server is a business you pay to deliver court forms. Look in a telephone directory under "Process Serving." The sheriff's civil division often has an office at the courthouse. You will also have to pay for its services. Judicial Council of California www.courtinfo.ca.gov Approved July 1, 2007 Optional Form Probate Code, § 1511 What Is "Proof of Service" in a Guardianship? (Probate--Guardianships and Conservatorships) GC-510, Page 1 of 4 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkflow.com GC-510 Ask the server to: What Is ''Proof of Service'' in a Guardianship? How does the server personally serve the Notice of Hearing and the Petition? Walk up to each person to be served and make sure he or she is the right person. Hand each person copies of the filled-out Notice of Hearing and the Petition. Fill out and sign Form GC-020(P), Proof of Personal Service of Notice of Hearing. If the server delivers papers to more people than can be listed on this form, ask the server to add the names of the additional people served on one or more copies of Form DE-120(PA)/GC-20(PA), Attachment to Notice of Hearing Proof of Personal Service. Give the filled-out and signed Form GC-020(P) and any attachment pages back to you. What if the person served won't take the papers or tears them up? The server must attempt to make personal delivery (but peacefully!) even if the person served won't take the papers. It doesn't matter if the person tears them up or throws them down after they are handed to him or her. (A registered process server or sheriff's deputy will know how to complete a good service. If you think someone who must be personally served will try to avoid service, it is a good idea to use one of these professionals to serve that person.) Who signs the Proof of Personal Service? Only the person who serves the Notice of Hearing and the Petition can sign Form GC-020(P). Neither you, any other petitioner, nor the person served may sign this form. If more than one person personally serves papers, each server must fill out and sign his or her own separate Form GC-020(P) showing the names of the persons he or she serves. Who may be served by mail? (You may use this form as a checklist. Check all that apply to your case.) The child's relatives listed in the child's Form GC-210(CA),Guardianship Petition--Child Information Attachment, attached to the Petition: Grandfather (father's father) Grandmother (father's mother) Grandfather (mother's father) Grandmother (mother's mother) Brother(s) (including half-brothers) (if 12 years of age or older) Sister(s) (including half-sisters) (if 12 years of age or older) These may be served by mail! If the child has a brother or sister under the age of 12, copies of the Notice of Hearing and the Petition must be mailed to one of the following persons for him or her instead of mailing directly to the young brother or sister: The brother's or sister's parent; A court-appointed guardian of the brother or sister; or A person having legal custody of the brother or sister who lives with that bro