What is Guardianship?

Guardianship is the legal process of having a person, the Ward, being declared legally incompetent meaning they are unable to manage their financial affairs and make healthcare decisions.

A Judge will appoint a Guardian, typically a spouse or a child, to manage the affairs of the Ward and make all financial and healthcare decisions for the Ward. This process typically takes one to three months to complete and can cost upwards of $1500 to $2000 or more in legal fees and court costs. An annual accounting of all the person’s income and expenses is required each year costing additional and ongoing legal fees and court costs.