Adult Guardianship

Full Video Transcript

Many families struggle with how to manage the finances, health care, and other personal matters of adults who are unable to care for themselves. You may decide to pursue an adult guardianship if an adult is mentally or physically unable to make his or her own decisions and does not have a living will and power of attorney that provide a competent person to make those judgments. You will need to petition the court for guardianship of the adult. If a judge agrees to your appointment, then you will be responsible for making many important decisions for that person, including where the person will live and what medical treatment the person should receive. The money used to pay for living expenses and medical treatment should not be your own money. Instead, it should be the money of the person for whom you are the guardian. Adult guardianship is a big responsibility, but it also has many advantages for incompetent adults and their families.