White Plains New York Guardianships Lawyers 

Individuals who are disabled, incapacitated, or who are minors may need legal guardians to make crucial financial, medical, and legal decisions on their behalf. When a person becomes incapacitated either due to an illness, accident, or disability, the courts can appoint a guardian to manage the person’s affairs. Guardians may be appointed for minors if a parent is incarcerated, incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to care for the child for whatever reason. Parents in these situations may even be able to request that a certain guardian be appointed. For parents who anticipate that they may not be able to care for their children due to illness or another reason, being able to decide who cares for your children can make an immense difference. For example, parents might arrange that a grandparent or close friend become a guardian of the child.

Guardianships can be established to ensure that an elderly person’s estate is managed should an individual become too sick to make decisions on his or her own behalf. If a person has a terminal or degenerative disease like ALS, Alzheimer’s, or cancer, and wants to ensure that their wishes regarding medical care and their estate are managed by a person they trust, a guardianship may be established. If a person is incapacitated due to illness or an accident, a guardian may need to be appointed to handle the person’s medical decisions and financial affairs. Finally, in certain situations, children may need to have guardians appointed to care and make decisions on their behalf. What are some situations where guardianships may be required? How can you establish a guardianship? The Bobb Law Firm is a guardianship law firm in White Plains, New York that may be able to assist you with establishing a guardianship to protect your loved ones and yourself.

Guardianships and Estate Planning

If your loved one is suffering from a degenerative illness or terminal illness that is impacting his or her ability to care for himself or herself or the estate, a guardianship may be established by the court. Guardianships are generally only established when they are absolutely needed, and generally a strong case must be presented to the court to show why a guardianship is necessary. If you are thinking of seeking a guardianship, you may want to speak to Mark Bobb, a White Plains, New York guardianship lawyer who can help you understand what the courts may require when it comes to establishing a guardianship. Our attorney can review the situation, see if there are any alternatives, and help you take required steps to protect your loved one’s interests and safety.

Guardianships allow an individual known as a conservator to make medical decisions, end of life decisions, and nursing care for an individual who can no longer make these decisions for themselves. A guardian may also be put in charge of managing a person’s estate, handling their financial affairs, paying bills, and other matters. If you have been diagnosed with a terminal or degenerative illness and want to decide who will serve as your guardian, being proactive can allow you to decide who you trust to manage your affairs, rather than waiting for the court to appoint a guardian for you. Have questions about how you can establish a guardian for a loved one or how you can manage your estate plans to include details about who is appointed to manage your affairs should you be unable to do so yourself? Mark Bobb is a guardianship lawyer in White Plains, New York that may be able to help.

Guardianships for Disabled Individuals

 If an individual is disabled and is unable to make decisions for him or herself, a guardian may be appointed to handle the person’s medical decisions and estate. According to the National Council on Disability, there are 1.3 million people under guardianships in the U.S. While there are situations where guardianships may be necessary (such as in cases where a person is seriously developmentally, physically, or mentally disabled), guardianships can take away a person’s rights to make decisions on their own behalf and the courts generally only award guardianships in extreme situations where guardianships are necessary. In many cases, disabled individuals may benefit from arrangements where they receive assistance regarding important decisions, but don’t have their right to make all decisions taken away through the guardianship process. However, concerned families often seek out guardianships for those who are severely disabled and who need major assistance with making important decisions and managing their own money. Mark Bobb is a guardianship attorney in White Plains, New York that may be able to assist you if you have questions about how a guardianship may be able to protect a loved one with a disability.

Guardianship for Minors

 Guardians may be appointed for minors in a range of situations, such as when both parents are incarcerated, when both parents are unable to care for their children due to illness, drug addiction, or incapacity, or when both parents pass away, or abandon a child. Sometimes friends, other family members, or other interested parties might seek a guardianship of a minor. At other times, the court may appoint a guardian for a minor. Sometimes parents themselves may choose a legal guardian for their children if they know they won’t be able to care for the child for a period of time. Before the court makes a decision on who can be a child’s legal guardian, the court will generally review all factors of the case, including what it deems to be in the best interest of the child. The court may also look closely at the qualifications of the person seeking to be a guardian of the child. Legal guardians of a child have the right to make important decisions for the child, including decisions about childcare, education, discipline, and any other issues that may arise. Have questions about the guardianship process for minors? The Bobb Law Firm is a guardianship law firm in White Plains, New York that may be able to assist you.