Guardianship Awareness Month

Designated last year by Governor DeSantis, October is Guardianship Awareness Month in the state of Florida. With 8.6 million residents aged 50 and older, we’re incredibly thankful our state has set aside this month to bring awareness and encourage seniors and their family members to prepare for the days ahead. 

To help you do just that, here’s a little bit of info about what guardianship is and how it works:

• A guardianship is when a person petitions the court to obtain the legal authority to make decisions for another person. 
• A guardianship may be needed if an adult cannot take care of themselves due to disease or mental illness, deficiency, or incapacity. 
• Guardianship is typically granted in the county the protected person has lived in for the past six months. The court may name a guardian for the person, the estate, or both.  
• A guardianship does not grant absolute control. The guardian must get the court’s approval before spending the person’s money or selling any property.
• A guardianship over an adult lasts until the adult regains the ability to care for himself or until the adult passes away.

As a firm dedicated solely to elder law, we take great pride in providing expert counsel to seniors and their families regarding guardianship, estate planning, social security disability, probate, Medicaid asset protection, and more—it’s this that distinguishes our firm from others who practice elder law “on the side.”

If you have questions, please reach out. There’s no need to worry anymore—we’re here to help.