Most Wisconsin residents become legally responsible for themselves once they hit the age of 18. Some, however, are unable to do so for one reason or another. If you are looking into potential guardianship over a loved one, Mayer Law Office, LLC, is here to guide you through the process.
You may want to obtain legal guardianship over someone who is older than 18 for many different reasons. Chief among them include having a loved one who is incapacitated due to age, an accident, or illness. If they suffer from a long term disability that makes it difficult for them to take care of themselves or make their own decisions, that may also be a good reason to consider becoming their guardian.
Guardianship can be short-term or long-term depending on your unique situation. For example, if the person you’re applying for guardianship of has been injured but there is an expectation that they will recover, your guardianship will be short term. However, if they have suffered from brain damage due to an accident and recovery is not expected, that guardianship will be long term.
You will need to officially file for guardianship with a court in order for it to be considered valid in the eyes of the law. For this reason, following the process carefully and filling out all paperwork is necessary.
If you are intending to apply for the guardianship of a loved one, it will benefit you to understand the laws relating to guardianship and what you will need to do to gain it. A good place to start is our web page, linked here, which discusses many different matters of family law including seeking guardianship.