A conservatorship begins with good intentions. It’s designed to protect your well-being and handle your affairs when you can’t. However, sometimes the person meant to help may start acting in ways that seem unfair or self-interested. The truth is, a conservator’s...
Guardianships
Can you pursue guardianship if your elderly parent opposes it?
When an elderly parent begins to decline mentally or physically, their adult children may feel the need to step in and help manage their affairs. Guardianship is a legal process that empowers someone to advocate for someone else who is not in a cognitive position to...
4 ways guardianship may be terminated in Virginia
Guardianship provides critical protection for individuals who are unable to manage their own affairs due to age, illness or disability. However, this arrangement is not always permanent. In Virginia, courts have the authority to end a guardianship when circumstances...
What is adult guardianship in Virginia?
Some adults don’t have the mental capacity to make decisions on their own. This makes it impossible to manage their own personal affairs. This could be the result of advanced age, disability or illness. Guardianship enables the court to allow someone to make...
How courts can respond to guardian abuse
Guardianship is meant to protect individuals who cannot manage their own personal or financial affairs. But in some cases, a guardian may exploit their authority financially, emotionally or even physically, leaving vulnerable individuals at risk. While courts aim to...
How does guardianship differ for minors and adults?
Guardianship is a legal process that grants an individual the authority to make decisions on behalf of another person who cannot manage their own affairs. While the process applies to both minors and incapacitated adults, the legal considerations and procedures differ...
Is guardianship the right decision for my adult child?
Parents have the legal right to make decisions for their children up until the age of 18. At that age, the law considers the child an adult and no longer subject to parental control. However, even adults might lose their ability to care for themselves due to severe...
Medical conditions that may lead to adult guardianship
Guardianship involves one person assuming legal authority over and practical responsibility for another person. Although many people associate guardianship with children, adults can sometimes require the support of a guardian because of age or significant health...
What asset accounting responsibilities do conservators have?
The Virginia Department of Judicial Services explains that conservators are fiduciaries who must thoughtfully manage and account for assets owned by the person in their care. As conservator, your duties include submitting detailed accounting reports with supporting...
What are the duties of a conservator?
Some people who suffer incapacitation are no longer able to make important financial and other life decisions. When this happens, a court may appoint a conservator to manage the estate of the disabled person. While conservators exercise power over an estate, they are...
