Nearly 1 in 20 children in the U.S. live in a household where someone other than a parent is their primary caretaker. Many families that could benefit from a formal minor guardianship cannot or do not pursue this legal arrangement. The laws are complex and sometimes specify different processes for the many circumstances under which a family might need minor guardianship. Legislatures have an important role to play in improving civil court processes for families. Learn how Iowa and Vermont reformed their minor guardianship policies to make them more family-friendly.