Ohio Guardianship Attorneys

You can reach us at (Ravenna) 330-296-8000 and (Stow) 330-686-2890

When A Guardian Needs To Be Appointed

A guardian is a person appointed by a probate court to act on behalf of another individual, called the ward, who is incapable of managing his or her own person and/or affairs either because of age, incompetence, or physical infirmity.

Guardianship Of A Minor

The first situation, age, is fairly straightforward. Anyone under the age of 18 years old typically cannot manage his/her own property and needs either a legal custodian or guardian to ensure their safety and well-being. A guardianship over a minor generally falls into two categories:

1 – The minor lacks a suitable parent, and someone else must be appointed as their guardian. This could be because both parents have passed away or because the child’s parents are deemed unsuitable for some reason.

2 – The second scenario involves a settlement upon a minor, which could include a personal injury claim or an inheritance.

The probate court is in charge of appointing a guardian. Still, parents may nominate a proposed guardian in their will, and children over the age of 14 may also have a say in the decision.

Guardianship For An Adult

A guardian may also be necessary if an adult is incapable of managing either his or her person (healthcare decisions) or affairs (financial decisions).

A guardian may be appointed to manage just the person or estate or may be appointed to handle both. Before appointing a guardian for an adult, the court must find the person is incompetent. For that reason, a guardian is necessary and appropriate.

Guardians’ Responsibility

Guardians over both minors and adults remain under the supervision of the probate court. They must submit regular reports to ensure that they are properly caring for their wards. If a friend or family member suspects that a guardian is abusing their role, they should contact the appropriate authorities. They may consider taking legal action themselves to terminate the guardianship.

Portage County Estate Planning Lawyer

Our Estate Planning lawyer in Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga Counties, can help you gain peace of mind by securing these issues. Consulting with an experienced Estate Planning lawyer is essential in making sure that your final wishes regarding your property, your loved ones, and your healthcare options are carried out.

Not all lawyers are created equal. In difficult times, it is important to select a lawyer who can relate to your situation in a very professional and sensible way.

Our firm the experience you need to address all your questions regarding wills and probate, trusts, drafting and execution of all legal documents, and estate administration. He is a knowledgeable and compassionate lawyer.

Weisenburger Law Offices, a law firm in Ravenna, OH, located 5 minutes from the Portage County Courthouse. Our lawyers are dedicated to serving clients in Portage and Summit Counties. Weisenburger Law Offices was created in Portage County in 2000, and our lawyers have been servicing the Portage County community ever since.

Disclaimer

The ohiocrimelawyer.com website is designed for general information only. Any information on this site is not to be construed as formal legal advice from a criminal defense lawyer, a DUI lawyer, a family law lawyer, or estate planning, wills, trusts, and probate lawyer, nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Persons accessing this site are encouraged to seek personal advice regarding their individual legal issues.

The attorneys in our law firm primarily service Portage County courts (Ravenna and Kent) from our office in Ravenna and Summit County courts (Akron, Stow, Barberton) from our office in Stow. Cases in all other courts in North East Ohio, such as Cuyahoga County courts, are handled under specific terms and conditions.