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Delaware Relative Caregivers' Medical Authorization Information


In Delaware more and more grandparents, aunts and uncles are raising other relative's children. While some relative caregivers have legal custody or guardianship of these children, many do not. 

Relatives who raise others' children without legal custody or guardianship often face difficulties in getting the services they need for these children. In particular, these caregivers frequently have difficulty in authorizing medical treatment for the children.

Focusing on these children, Delaware passed the Relative Caregivers' Medical Authorization law. Under this law, grandparents and other relatives who are raising another relative's child without having legal custody or guardianship can approve medical treatment for that child.

In this section of our web site, you can read the text of the Delaware Relative Caregivers' Medical Authorization law as well as the regulations pertaining to the law. In addition, you can download a copy of the Delaware Relative Caregivers' Medical Authorization Affidavit. (The affidavit is a form that a caregiver needs to fill out to get authorization to approve medical treatment.)

We hope that this information is helpful to you. If you have questions about the law, regulations, or affidavit, please contact the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center at the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.



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