It’s hard to deal with the reality that a family member or relative is unable of taking care of themselves, their basic needs, and their finances. And while the possible reasons vary, one thing is for sure: someone you love needs the kind of help and attention that goes way beyond just checking in to see if they are doing fine.
It’s hard to deal with the reality that a family member or relative is unable of taking care of themselves, their basic needs, and their finances. And while the possible reasons vary, one thing is for sure: someone you love needs the kind of help and attention that goes way beyond just checking in to see if they are doing fine.These types of situations include a variety of scenarios. It could be an elder aunt with diminishing physical and mental capabilities or a very young nephew with special needs who lost both his parents. Cause aside; if a person dear to you requires more than minimal support, it might be time to consult lawyers for guardianship and conservatorship.
Guardianship and Conservatorship, Explained
Guardianships and Conservatorships are proceedings designed to protect those persons – whether a minor or an adult – who cannot protect themselves. Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings protect individuals who cannot make or communicate reasonable decisions about their health and well-being or their finances and property due to physical illness, mental disorder, mental illness, disability, chronic alcoholism or chemical dependency. Though similar in some ways, guardianship and conservatorship are two different things.
- Conservatorships appoint a person as the protector of the legally incapacitated individual’s financial interests. A conservator pays the bills and manages the finances and assets of the ward.
- Guardianships, on the other hand, goes a lot deeper than conservatorship. When an individual is named a guardian, he or she is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the ward’s person. Guardians are granted authority to decide most anything concerning the ward’s well-being, be it about education, medical care, or where to live.
The guardian and the conservator can be the same or different persons. Moreover, it is possible for a potential ward to petition for a guardian or a conservator. In most cases, however, it is a family member who petitions for the appointment of one or both.
Becoming One
What many people don’t realize is that acquiring and maintaining guardianship or conservatorship is an intensive process. The road to becoming a guardian or conservator is fraught with many legal complexities, and that’s just the beginning. The stress and pressure can very well take an emotional toll on the people concerned. That said, this is not something that you should try to accomplish without professional help.
To ease the burden, ask for the assistance of a reputable guardianship and conservatorship attorney near you. And take note: not just any guardianship lawyer but someone with the legal knowledge and experience to satisfy the demands of the guardianship.
With reliable legal guidance, becoming a guardian or conservator can be relatively straightforward. While you can still expect a fair share of paperwork, you don’t have to worry about that so much because a good guardianship attorney will take care of most of it for you.
Guardianships and conservatorship have many stages. And to be clear, the legal demands do not end after the guardian or conservator is appointed. Some of the common guardianship- and conservatorship-related services are:
- Petitioning for an appointment
- Fulfilling guardianship or conservatorship responsibilities
- Conservatorship administration assistance
- Annual reporting and accounting of assets and expenditures
- Concluding a guardianship or conservatorship
- Transferring assets after the death of a Ward
Hire A Guardianship and Conservatorship Lawyer You Can Trust!
With our expertise and depth of knowledge in the field, Provident Law® can assist you with the appointment process and everything else that comes after. We acknowledge that this is a tough journey, and we’re here to make it as smooth as possible for you.
If you have any questions and concerns regarding guardianship or conservatorship and what they entail, we invite you to get in touch with one of our attorneys. We’d be glad to offer whatever help we can.