Establishing Legal Guardianship
Contact Our Fort Walton Beach Family Law Attorneys at The Virga Law Firm, P.A.
Whether a younger child is in need of a caregiver or an elderly relative is unable to tend to themselves, establishing guardianship can help caring for the individual much easier. Becoming a guardian gives you the ability to make important decisions for those you are caring for, including:
- Healthcare decisions
- Schooling
- Religious upbringing
- Financial decisions
If you are interested in establishing guardianship, contact one of our experienced Fort Walton Beach family lawyers to begin building your case.
Legal Responsibility
When you become a guardian, you are legally responsible for another person’s well-being. Whether temporary or permanent, the legal action of becoming a guardian can make caring for your ward significantly easier.
Guardians can act as legal representatives and caregivers for a number of wards, including:
- Elderly adults
- Mentally or physically disabled family members
- Children or minors
The state of Florida allows for both voluntary and involuntary guardianships. A voluntary guardianship is when an adult, whether elderly, disabled or otherwise, is unable to maintain their own health and estate, and submits themselves for guardianship. An involuntary guardianship refers to the legal caregiver of a minor or child who has no legal say over the issuance.
Guardianships differ from adoptions in that the legal responsibility can be partial, or even temporary. Guardianships allow the biological parents of the ward to maintain some or all of their parental rights, whereas adoptions strip these responsibilities from the biological parents.
The court may extend limited guardianship in a situation where the ward may only need assistance in some aspects of their life. Should the ward become able to care for themselves, the court may deem the guardianship unnecessary. This is helpful if you need to care for someone after a catastrophic accident, as you would only need to assume the responsibility of the ward until they are once again able to care for themselves.
Contact Our Family Law Attorneys Today – (800) 822-5170.
At The Virga Law Firm, P.A., we are dedicated to helping you and your family. Our lawyers have over 80 years of combined experience in family law and have helped countless clients become legal guardians. We work to keep your family’s best interests at heart and help you establish a legal solution for your situation. If you are looking for legal assistance to help establish guardianship, look no further than The Virga Law Firm, P.A.
Contact our Fort Walton Beach attorneystoday to discuss your guardianship case: (800) 822-5170.