Conservatorships & Guardianship Lawyers Serving in Troy, Oakland County, & Surrounding Areas

Making Sure Your Loved Ones Are Taken Care Of (Minor and Adult)

How do you help your parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia when he or she refuses to acknowledge needing help, even when the situation is becoming dangerous?

The safest way to protect a vulnerable adult is through guardianship and/or conservatorship proceedings. Both are handled in probate court and involve someone asking for a decision maker to be appointed because the person in need of protection is unable to make or communicate informed decisions.

What Does a Guardian Do?

Court-appointed guardians make medical, placement and other decisions, while Conservators handle finances. One person often serves both roles, but courts will also appoint two different people. To make the decision to grant guardianship over a patient, judges take into consideration:

• Medical records
• Financial records
• Testimony from family
• Testimony from caregivers
• Reports from court-appointed physicians

Judges take very seriously the process of removing someone’s legal right to make their own decisions. Making this determination – that the person in question is unable to make their own decisions – is step one; choosing who will be appointed to take over their decision-making is step two.

What Happens After I Am Made Guardian or Conservator?

The person appointed to serve on behalf of the ward has strict duties to act in their best interest. They are required to report to Probate Court and each year must file a detailed report so that court can evaluate the ward’s care. At BRMM, our committed attorneys will continue working with your family throughout the ward’s life.

While it is never the choice to initiate guardianship or conservatorship unless there is no other option, sometimes diplomacy fails. If a loved one’s Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other condition cause them to be too stubborn to admit needing decision-making help, this path is the safest choice.