Conservatorships

When an adult becomes substantially unable to provide for his or her own personal needs or manage his or her own financial resources, a conservatorship can be established. A conservator may be appointed by the court to make important decisions for the incapacitated individual—called a ward.

A conservator can be a relative or friend of the ward, or a private person or county agency that serves as a public conservator. Depending on the type of conservatorship, a conservator can be authorized to:

• Arrange for the ward’s care and protection
• Decide where the ward will live
• Arrange for the ward’s health care, meals, or transportation
• Manage the ward’s finances
• Pay the ward’s bills
• Collect income due to the ward
• Invest the ward’s money

A conservatorship can help to insure your loved one is cared for in a competent and professional manner. Our experienced probate attorneys can discuss your needs and assist you in determining what type of conservatorship is right for your loved one. Our attorneys can also help you navigate the time-consuming conservatorship process, involving hearings, filing documents with the court, and periodic future reporting of the ward’s status.

Guardianships

If a child is living with an adult other than his or her own parent for any reason, including the death of his or her parent or abandonment, a “probate guardianship” can be established. A probate guardianship gives the adult (or “guardian”) legal authority to make decisions on the child’s behalf.

Once appointed by the court, the guardian is responsible for the child’s care. The guardian may be required to provide such things as food, clothing, shelter, medical and dental care, and education. The guardian may also be responsible for managing the child’s income or other property until the child turns 18. A probate guardianship can only be established if the child is not already involved in an action in Family Court or Juvenile Court.

Establishing a guardianship is a serious matter. It can take a great deal of time, and the forms and rules for providing notice to the child’s relatives can be complicated. Our probate attorneys can discuss your needs, evaluate your options, and present your case to the court.

If you live in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and are interested in learning more about establishing a conservatorship or a guardianship, please contact our skilled probate lawyers to discuss your situation and the options available to you.

To set up a consultation to discuss Conservatorships & Guardianships, Contact Us Online or call us at (301) 986-4555.