father and downs syndrome child

Adult Guardianship Could Benefit Your Family

If you have a disabled relative or elderly family member in Florida who requires assistance to preserve their health, you may want to consider gaining guardianship or conservatorship so that you are able to make critical decisions for that person. Some elderly individuals give power of attorney to a relative as they age, but some situations can occur that reber them suddenly helpless before this can happen. In these situations, you can go through the legal process of becoming an adult guardian.

Having guardianship can relieve a lot of major stressors. For example, you will not have to worry about where your loved one is living or if they are getting adequate care. You will also be able to make legal choices regarding their assets. There are some downsides to gaining guardianship. The process can be very difficult and includes a court hearing, the extensive paperwork is time-consuming, if the adult is still a bit capable, having someone gain guardianship can be humiliating and it can also put a strain between yourself and other members of your family.

If your loved one does not have a living will, power of attorney or just needs someone to make the important personal decisions for life, adult guardianship or conservatorship might be the best arrangement for your situation. The process is thorough, as an investigation will be conducted before a court decides, but the end result is necessary, the continued well-being of your loved one. If you have additional questions about adult guardianship, speaking to an experienced attorney could be beneficial.