Ensuring Care and Protection for the Vulnerable
Guardianship is when a court appoints someone to care for someone else. This can happen when there is a minor child that needs an adult to care for them, or it can be necessary when someone has reached adulthood, but has a physical or mental impairment that necessitates someone else to care for them. There are two types of guardianship – guardian of the person and guardian of the estate.
Why is Guardianship needed?
Often, a parent will need to get guardianship of their child with special needs when that child becomes 18 even though nothing else has changed with regard to the relationship between the parent and the child. Planning ahead and getting the paperwork on file in advance of the child’s 18th birthday ensures continuity of care between the parent and child. Guardianship may also be required when an aging parent or spouse develops dementia and is no longer capable of handling their own financial or personal affairs.