Guardianships & Conservatorships

Guardianships and conservatorships are court-involved processes whereby a person is seeking permission from a court to take over decision-making for another individual. A common example of the need for guardianship and conservatorship arises in the context of a family member struggling with mental health issues such as Dementia or Alzheimer’s. In this example, the family member suffering from this illness may no longer be able to safely make his/her own decisions concerning health care, residential placement, or even ensuring bills are promptly paid. A guardianship and conservatorship allows a third party (usually a relative) to step in and make decisions for the best interests of the person suffering from such illness. Guardianships and conservatorships are also routinely utilized in the context of traumatic brain injuries, severe substance abuse, physical and mental abuse, and financial exploitation.