Adult Guardianship and Conservatorship Proceedings

When an adult loses his or her capacity, and has not executed proper Powers of Attorney or Advanced Medical Directives, it may be necessary to institute legal proceedings to have the Court appoint a guardian to handle the health care needs of the incapacitated adult and/or a conservatorship to handle the incapacitated adults financial needs. The guardianship and conservatorship process is a complicated legal proceeding involving the Court and providing due process to an incapacitated adult, and can be very invasive of the incapacitated adult's privacy and emotional stability. However, these proceedings are often necessary to provide the incapacitated adult's agent or loved ones with proper authority to properly support the adult. As suggested above, guardianship and conservatorship, and the costs in time, effort, and money involved in securing these authorities, can be mitigated and in some cases completely avoided if the adult - while still capable - executes an Advanced Medical Directive and a Power of Attorney. Please contact us at 703-865-7480 so we may be able to assist you with adult guardianship and conservatorship matters.