Guardianship & Conservatorship Proceedings

A Guardianship is a court proceeding to appoint a person to manage the personal affairs of an incapacitated person, including that person’s medical care and long term care placement.  A Conservatorship is a court proceeding to appoint a person or institution to manage the financial affairs of an incapacitated person.

Our experienced elder law attorneys understand how painful it is to face an elderly parent or loved one’s progressive loss of independence due to poor health, dementia, Alzheimer’s or other medical condition. Our elder law attorneys help families with a range of questions related to incompetence, guardianship and conservatorship and arranging protection for a loved one who cannot look after himself or herself.

We are familiar with the range of circumstances that can lead a family to consider guardianship or conservatorship as a way to protect a loved one with declining judgment or cognitive faculties. We can assist with petitioning the court to appoint you or another person as a guardian who assumes responsibility for an incompetent ward’s personal care, financial affairs or both.

Because of the relative expense and administrative burdens of a formal guardianship and conservatorship, we will first work with you to see whether the goals of a guardianship or conservatorship can be accomplished by less restrictive means. We will also work with your family to defuse any potential problems between groups who support a guardianship and conservatorship and those who oppose it.

Additionally, we work with guardians and conservators who have questions about the proper discharge of their fiduciary duties, as well as with family members who are concerned about the performance of the guardian and conservator who has been appointed in their case.

Our firm is here to protect you and those you love. Contact us today for experienced and compassionate advice about your situation.