Understanding Legal Guardianship in California
There are countless young people who have not yet reached adult age who face very difficult circumstances in our area. Some are faced with the challenge of significant disabilities or medical problems that makes their care extremely difficult. Others have a parent or parents who for any number of reasons are not able to care for them. The proverbial silver lining for young people in this position is that sometimes there is an adult out there willing to step up and provide this care.
While this is admirable, it should be noted that there is also a legal way to do this to make sure that the person who is taking on this responsibility has the legal authority to make decisions for that child or those children’s care. The best way to get this all handled is to seek the help of a Los Angeles guardianship lawyer so that a valid guardianship arrangement can be put into place.
Setting Up A Legal Guardianship In California
The care of every minor involves the need to regularly make decisions in the interests of that child or those children. This does not necessarily refer to decisions regarding what to have for dinner and what to wear to school. Instead, a guardian will be needed in order to make bigger-impact decisions that can include:
- Which school to attend
- Whether or not to have a medical procedure done
- Where to live
There are other examples we could offer, but in these types of situations a legal guardian will be necessary to move things forward. That’s why people who want to care for someone else need to work with a Los Angeles guardianship lawyer so that there are no questions or potential problems when it’s time for decisions like these to be made.
When a guardianship is established, one individual has the legal responsibility to care for a child under the age of 18. A guardianship is typically established when the child’s parents are unable to provide care due to:
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Serious illness
- Death
Our law firm can help you determine what type of guardianship is most appropriate for your situation. A guardianship can be set up to protect an individual, an estate, or both.
We have significant experience working with families of children with disabilities, including children with autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, and other disabilities.
Learn about the benefits of setting up a conservatorship, which involves appointing one individual to make decisions and manage the financial affairs of another individual.
Contact Our Los Angeles Guardianship Attorney
As the old saying goes, “Life waits for no one.” If there is a child or another person in your life that you’d like to care for legally, then there is no time to waste. Both you and this person need and deserve the certainty that comes with the establishment of a legal guardian in this person’s life. It will provide everyone with peace of mind and give you the authority you need to make sure that the person you care for is given all that he or she deserves in terms of having someone there.
The best and most efficient way to get this done is to work with a Los Angeles guardianship lawyer who understands what needs to be done, how to do this and what’s expected of you as soon as you ask about the possibility.
If you are interested in learning more about setting up a guardianship for a minor child or incapacitated adult, please contact our estate planning lawyer online or call 818-676-9572. We welcome AARP members.
