Judge Sullivan of the Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court on the record granted a petition to allow adult ward Ellie Garrett to relocate immediately to Pennsylvania while the guardianship remains open pending the outcome of a parallel Pennsylvania guardianship proceeding and an abuse-and-neglect matter.

The decision followed testimony from family members, the ward and a foster-care worker that much of the required counseling and parenting services are available virtually and that returning to Pennsylvania would give Garrett stronger family support and ease a significant financial burden. Macy Moore, a foster-care worker with Catholic Charities, told the court, “I do think it would be in the best interest. I think me and everybody on her family, like Ellie and her mother, communicate frequently and consistently.”

Petitioner Tanya Garren, Garrett’s mother and guardian, described Garrett’s progress in virtual parenting classes and counseling and said the family has been alternating hotel stays while caring for her, creating financial and emotional strain. Garrett testified that she wants to return to Pennsylvania and believes it would be in her and her child’s best interest.

Counsel for the family urged the move. “I am gonna ask that you allow her to move back to Pennsylvania,” counsel told the court, noting the family’s progress and the availability of services. County counsel and other parties raised safety concerns tied to a pending criminal investigation involving the child’s father; one attorney told the court he had “a safety concern” about potential contact if Garrett remained local.

Judge Sullivan said she appreciated the family’s steps toward securing lawful authority in Pennsylvania and acknowledged the department’s work on an interstate-compact (ICPC) home assessment. The judge found the relocation would serve Garrett’s welfare, granted the petition to allow an immediate move, directed staff to prepare a separate order and distributed copies of Pennsylvania pleadings to the parties and the foster-care worker. The judge kept the guardianship open and set a guardianship status review for Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m., explaining that if Pennsylvania grants plenary guardianship before the review, the Lenawee County case could be closed.

No formal vote was required. The court’s orders also call for continued monitoring of the abuse-and-neglect case and follow-up on any ICPC report from Pennsylvania.

The next scheduled review in the abuse-and-neglect matter is Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m., and the court asked parties to return then for further status on whether the guardianship here should remain in place.