Guardianship and Temporary Placement in International Child Matters in Utrecht
In Utrecht, guardianship offers a temporary solution for authority over children in crisis situations, such as for asylum seekers or refugee children, and this differs significantly from adoption. This is regulated via the Youth Act and international conventions, with specific application in the Utrecht region through collaboration with local agencies such as the Juridisch Loket Utrecht and Veilig Thuis Utrecht.
Legal Frameworks in Utrecht
- Youth Act art. 36-41 (guardianship), applied by the District Court of Central Netherlands in Utrecht.
- Hague Guardianship Convention 1996, enforced via the Child Protection Board Utrecht.
- Civil Code Book 1, art. 1:251-257, with local protocols for Utrecht youth care.
Guardianship Procedure in Utrecht
- Appointment of guardians: The Utrecht District Court appoints guardians after reporting to the Utrecht Youth Neighbourhood Team.
- Temporary placement: Maximum 2 years in Utrecht foster families, extendable via the juvenile court judge.
- Transition to adoption: Possible after extensive screening by the Utrecht Youth Care Agency.
Differences with Adoption
| Aspect | Guardianship | Adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Temporary, with Utrecht monitoring | Full and permanent |
| Biological rights | Remain in existence | Terminated |
In Utrecht, guardianship is particularly relevant for refugee children from asylum seeker centres such as De Koepel in Utrecht, coordinated by the Central Authority for International Child Abduction (CA-IKA) in The Hague with local support from the municipality of Utrecht. Costs are lower: €4,500-€12,000 due to regional subsidies.