An Important but Difficult Step to Take
Deciding who should take care of your own affairs, your minor children or a vulnerable adult child if you become incapacitated is not nearly as difficult as the job of actually shouldering that responsibility or seeking to establish guardianship over another human being — especially when that person happens to be your mother or father.
If it has become clear to you that a parent or aging family member no longer has the ability to protect themselves or manage their own affairs competently — establishing legal guardianship or conservatorship or both over that person's affairs may be a necessary step.
At Resnick & Moss, P.C., we understand that this is neither an easy decision nor an easy responsibility to take on. Our lawyers can guide you through the steps it takes to establish a guardianship or conservatorship and be available to provide guidance and assist you in managing that responsibility once it has been established. Schedule an initial consultation today by calling our Bloomfield Hills office directly or by contacting us online.
The Difference Between Guardianships and Conservatorships
Legal guardianship conveys the authority to make medical and personal care decisions for an incapacitated person. For instance, a legal guardian gets to decide where their "ward" (the incapacitated person) will live, which doctors they will see and what kind of care they will receive. By contrast, a conservator is granted the authority to make decisions that involve property or the financial affairs of the ward.
Last, we would like to mention that in addition to helping clients establish legal guardianships and manage those responsibilities — our attorneys handle guardianship litigation for clients in the Detroit area and throughout southeast Michigan as well.
To learn more about these issues or our estate planning practice in general — call us directly at 248-642-5400 or reach us online.
