Experienced Central Valley Lawyers Provide Services Related to Guardianships and Conservatorships.
Helping you make arrangements to protect children and parents
No parents like to think about what will happen if they pass away while their children are still young, not to mention the burden that would be placed on their children by a parent’s deteriorating mental state. The Fresno attorneys at Gilmore Magness Leifer organize conservatorships and guardianships that help protect the rights of your family members when they are most vulnerable. You can trust in the firm’s experienced team, as it has practiced continually in the Central Valley of California for more than 70 years.
Agreements that protect both children and adults
A guardianship determines who will have custody of your children if you and your spouse die unexpectedly. A conservatorship provides for a child or other relative to take over decision-making capabilities from an incapacitated parent who is no longer able to make decisions. In both cases, it is common for a single person to be the guardian or conservator of the person physically (providing for their needs) and financially (managing the estate to the vulnerable person’s benefit). These arrangements can be permanent, such as in the case of death or long-term disability, or temporary.
Both guardians and conservators have a number of responsibilities, including:
The guardian or conservator is expected to ensure that the individual in question receives proper care and is provided with food, health care, shelter and clothing.
This often means that guardians take children into their own home and raise them. In a conservatorship, the conservator may be responsible for finding a medical facility or retirement home where professionals can care for the person.
If guardians or conservators have been given authority over their charges’ estate, they are required to manage it responsibly to ensure the child or adult receives proper care. They must also ensure that the remaining assets are transferred appropriately when the time comes.
Conservatorships can be difficult without an attorney
As people live longer, diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s are becoming more common. Adults suffering from these conditions often fight conservatorships because they believe they are fine. At times like these, it can help to have a skilled and experienced estate planning attorney to help you do the right thing. Work with Gilmore Magness Leifer to get the dependable legal counsel you need.