An adult is considered anyone 18 years of age or older and is expected to be able to take care of themselves mentally, physically, and financially. However, adults who have a mental illness, a decline in mental ability with age, have had a disability since childhood, or those who have a physical ailment, are not fully capable of taking care of themselves and might need legally appointed assistance.
Others who may also need legal guardianship are those who waste money on addictive behaviors (particularly drug addicts) that cause monetary and/or physical hardships for their family. So, when an individual falls under any of the above mentioned categories, it might be in their best interest to have a legal guardian.
A legal guardian is someone who has a permissible relationship with and control over a disabled adult’s financial, property, and medical decisions, similar to the relationship of a parent to a child. The court assigns legal guardians to make major life decisions for disabled adults.
Those who are 18-years-old or older, live in the United States, and are of good mental capability can be potential candidates for legal guardianship. A guardian should not have a disability and it is preferred that the candidate have a clean arrest/prison record.
If a disabled adult does not wish to have a legal guardian, if a power of attorney was already assigned, or if the legal guardian candidate has a felony record, the court may take into consideration that criteria to decide if the guardianship is in the best interest of the disabled adult.
Contact an Illinois family lawyer for more information about legal guardianship of a disabled adult. The right attorney can help with any real estate, financial, or emergency issues regarding guardianship issues. Our DuPage County family law attorneys are highly skilled, and will listen to your concerns in order to help you find the best solution for your situation.
