Philadelphia Attorney Handling Guardianships for People With Special Needs
If your child is about to turn 18 and has a disability that keeps him or her from being able to make sound legal decisions, it will be necessary to establish a legal guardianship in order for you to continue making decisions on his or her behalf.
When children turn 18 and become legal adults, their parents are no longer legally authorized to make decisions on their behalf. For many families, this coming of age requires special consideration.
If you are concerned about the well-being and day-to-day needs of a disabled adult in your life, establishing a guardianship can protect your loved one and provide you with peace of mind. Your loved one needs someone who is authorized to see to his or her affairs and to ensure decisions are made in their best interests.
The law offices of Alan Jay Ackerman, Esquire helps parents petition the probate court to obtain guardianships over adults with disabilities.
If you would like to discuss establishing guardianship for an adult family member or friend with special needs, call us toll free at 1-888-AJA-LAWS or locally at 215-245-2250 to arrange a consultation. Or, e-mail us and someone will be in touch with you promptly.
Establishing Legal Guardianships for Adults With Disabilities
When a person has special needs or is incapacitated due to an age-related illness, there is no automatic shift of their legal rights and responsibilities to someone else. The law assumes that all adults are capable of seeing to their own interests, and it must be shown that a person is unable to handle personal and financial affairs in a responsible manner for someone to take over those affairs.
Attorney Alan Jay Ackerman has more than 35 years of experience in probate law. He understands the conditions that must be met to establish guardianship. At the law firm of Alan Jay Ackerman, Esquire, we use our experience to guide you through the guardianship process. Our ultimate goal is to help you protect your loved one from neglect, abuse and exploitation.
The Guardianship Process
Guardianship proceedings begin with filing a petition with the probate court. In some situations, the petition may be contested by the person alleged to need help. A guardian ad litem may be appointed to act on behalf of that person during the proceedings. If the guardianship petition is granted, you can be legally authorized to handle:
- Living arrangements
- Health care decisions
- Educational decisions
- Vocational training
- Income, benefits and other financial matters
The law offices of Alan Jay Ackerman can also help you create a special needs trust and help with other issues that may arise when planning for a loved one with special needs.
Our office is dedicated to helping you through this process to ensure your friend or loved one's well-being is protected. Contact us to schedule a consultation.
