Guardianship requires the filing of a petition, a court hearing, and possibly accountings to the court.  It is a process, and

one with which the attorneys at The Walls Law Group are familiar; Ms. Allen has participated in guardianship hearings monthly for over 10 years. 

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Guardianship is the appointment of someone by the court to assist a person who is not in a position to manage their affairs, either physically and/or mentally.  In North Carolina, it is unfortunately called adjudication of incompetence.  State law defines incompetence as an adult who does not have capacity to manage his own affairs, or to make or communicate important decisions.  Often this is a result of mental illness, dementia, an accident or stroke, or some condition that causes that person to lose the ability to handle the general business of life.

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Guardians must act in the best interest of the ward at all times. 

 

A Guardian of the Person is one who is to make provision for the ward’s care and comfort and maintenance.  This includes making decisions in terms of living arrangements, health care, and things which directly affect the ward.

 

A Guardian of the Estate is someone who is responsible for handling assets of the ward. It is a fiduciary duty, and this individual must be bonded and provide annual accountings to the Clerk of Court, accounting for every penny in and out of the Guardianship Account. 

 

The Guardian of the Person and Guardian of the Estate be two separate people; when one person is both Guardian of the Person and Guardian of the Estate, it is known as being the General Guardian.

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Let us assist you if you believe that a guardianship of a loved one is an appropriate step.

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