Guardianships and Conservatorships
A conservatorship or guardianship proceeding gives a conservator or guardian the right to make decisions for a person who lacks capacity or sufficient understanding to communicate. When you have an aging relative or when someone you love is no longer able to protect himself or herself, you may want to consider a conservatorship or guardianship proceeding.
Michigan Guardianship Attorney
At Willis Law, we offer experienced counsel and advocacy to help families through conservatorship and guardianship proceedings to manage care or finances. A combined conservatorship and guardianship action will entrust another individual to manage the person and the finances of a disabled person.
Our law firm is dedicated to a Christian model of service with a mission to protect clients as they make the best decisions for their family and future. Let us guide you with dignity and discretion.
Call our Kalamazoo law office or one of our other office locations at (888) 461-7744, or contact us by email, for a consultation with a Michigan guardianship lawyer.
Guardianships of Incapacitated Persons
According to Michigan law, an incapacitated person lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate informed decisions. The court may appoint a guardian if it finds that the individual is incapacitated and cannot make wise personal decisions regarding the following:
- Health care
- Daily activities
- General well-being
Our attorneys will help you create a durable power of attorney for health care (i.e., designation of patient advocate), which allows you to appoint an advocate of your own choosing. A guardian may also be designated to take care of your surviving dependents through a will or trust. If a choice of guardian was not put in place prior to an individual's death, we work with his or her family to achieve a guardian appointment that is appropriate.
Conservatorship to Manage Finances
A conservator is necessary if a person cannot manage his or her own finances, including medical bills. In Michigan, the court may appoint a conservator if it finds that the individual satisfies the following conditions:
- Cannot effectively manage property and business affairs
- Has property that will be wasted without proper management
- Requires assistance to successfully obtain money
As with a guardianship, you can direct the appointment of your conservator through appointment of an agent. Our attorneys will help you create a general durable power of attorney, allowing you to establish the person whom you trust to handle your affairs on your behalf. If you have not made such a designation and a conservatorship becomes necessary, the firm's lawyers work with your family and the court to help guide the appointment of a sensible conservator.
Contact a Michigan Guardianship Lawyer for a Free Consultation
For a free consultation, please call our Grand Rapids, Michigan, lawyers toll free at (888) 461-7744 or contact us by email to submit a question about your case.