What You Need To Know Now About Guardianship In Maryland

Posted

Guardianship is appointed by the court when an adult is unable to take care of their personal or financial needs due to incapacitation, age, disease or disability, in accordance with Maryland legal guidelines. Additionally, guardianship is established for minor children when their parent or parents are unable to provide adequate care due to an illness, injury, incapacitation or incarceration. In either case, an experienced Maryland guardianship attorney can provide the assistance you need to protect your loved one.

Guardianship of a Minor Child Whose Parents Are Incapable of Providing Care

Many people associate guardianship of a child with the death of the child’s parents. However, this is not always the case. A grandparent, other family member, or close family friend of the child can be appointed guardian by petitioning the court. This may be needed if the child’s parent or parents are incapable of taking care of the child due to an illness, drug or alcohol addiction and treatment, or any other serious reason. The guardianship may be temporary, while the parent recovers from a serious injury, and it allows the parent or parents to retain their parental rights. The guardian is granted legal authority to ensure the needs of an individual are taken care of, but does not automatically grant custodial rights. For a family going through a rough time, guardianship may be the best answer. An experienced guardian attorney can help determine the best approach.

Guardianship of an Elderly Parent With Dementia or Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s dementia affects nearly 6 million Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. If you’re an adult child of a parent with dementia or Alzheimer’s, you can understand just how devastating this disease is. Other seniors suffer from other forms of cognitive decline or impairments that make them similarly at risk — at risk of forgetting to take their medicine or to properly feed and clothe themselves, at risk of being taken advantage of by financial scammers, at risk of forgetting to pay their mortgage or electricity bill, and generally at risk of causing harm to themselves. In these cases, you can petition the court to become a guardian, and take over your elderly parent’s financial and decision-making for them. They must be deemed incapacitated by the court to do this, however.

Becoming a Guardian

The most difficult aspect of becoming a guardian is gaining the court’s approval that guardianship is necessary, and that you are the qualified individual who can best carry out the vulnerable person’s best interests. The court will provide an orientation program, training program, and other resources. A well-thought-out estate plan can reduce some of the burden and stress by clearly outlining the wishes ahead of time.

Our Pasadena Guardianship Attorneys Can Help You Now

If you have a loved one who needs guardianship, Frame & Frame’s Maryland guardianship attorneys can help you get started immediately. They help concerned family members and adult children care for their loved ones by setting up guardianships in the vulnerable person’s best interest. To schedule a consultation with an experienced Maryland guardianship attorney, call 410-255-0373.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here