Discovering that your loved one is no longer capable of making decisions for himself or herself is challenging. If you find yourself in this situation, know that there are steps you can take to protect your family member. One popular option is to become your elder’s guardian by contacting a family law attorney in Louisiana.
A guardian is an individual who makes all official legal decisions for an incapacitated elder. A guardian typically takes over responsibility for managing a person’s property, determining where the individual will live, paying bills, and supervising medical decisions. As a family member, it’s likely that you have your elder’s best interests at heart when you seek out the services of a family law attorney in Louisiana for the purposes of obtaining guardianship.
Not all guardians carry out the same tasks. While you may be interested in providing a full range of services for your elder family member, there is another option known as limited guardianship that may be a better fit for your situation. Limited guardianship restricts powers available to a guardian, meaning that your elder family member will still have some freedoms and legal rights. If you are loved one is able to still make some decisions for himself or herself, limited guardianship may be the right approach. An example of a situation in which limited guardianship is an appropriate fit is when your elder family member is able to live on his or her own but needs assistance with financial or other decisions due to a mental illness.
Sadly, in many situations full guardianship is the best solution. This allows you to ensure the proper care and attention for your elderly loved one. Contact a Louisiana family law attorney today to determine the most appropriate guardianship situation.
