NJ A1371

Expands New Jersey's standby guardianship law (P.L.1995, c.76) to allow parents or legal custodians facing federal immigration enforcement actions—including arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal—to appoint standby guardians for their minor children.

Defines "administrative separation" as separation from a child due to federal immigration matters or receipt of official communication from immigration enforcement authorities indicating impending arrest, detention, incarceration, or removal.

Permits courts to appoint standby guardians when there is significant risk of administrative separation, without requiring documentation of an impending separation to be submitted with the petition.

Requires the parent's attorney or legal representative to provide a determination of administrative separation to the appointed standby guardian, and mandates the guardian petition the court for confirmation within 60 days of assuming duties.

Allows another person to sign the written standby guardian designation on behalf of a parent who has been arrested, detained, incarcerated, or removed from the state due to immigration enforcement.