Recognizing that one of your loved ones can’t make decisions for themselves is often hard to deal with. Once this happens, you may find it necessary to try to take care of them. Because they’re an adult, you’ll need to either have power of attorney for them or be appointed as their legal guardian.
There are several things that you’ll be responsible for if you’re appointed as a guardian. One thing that you’ll have to determine is whether the court gave you a full guardianship or a limited guardianship. This will outline the exact duties you’re responsible for.
Possible duties you’ll have to perform as the guardian of an adult
As a guardian, you’ll need to make decisions about your loved one’s care. This can be personal decisions, such as where they live. It may also include medical care and financial decisions. You may also have to make legal decisions for the person.
Every decision you make has to be made based on what’s best for your loved one. You can’t do anything that’s self-serving or that’s not in the individual’s best interests. You will likely have to file reports about your decisions and actions with the court. This can include an initial guardianship plan, financial accountings and annual care plans.
Serving as someone else’s guardian is a big responsibility. It’s critical to understand what duties you’ll have to handle so you can be sure you’re up for it. Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters may help you to get valuable information throughout the process.