Guardianship

San Antonio Guardianship Attorney

Protect your loved one's finances

At the law firm of Michael W. Jackson, I assist clients in establishing guardianships over both minor children and incompetent or incapacitated adults. If you have a question or need help with a guardianship issue, I can help. Call me, Michael Jackson, to discuss your legal needs.

What is a Guardianship?

Guardianship of Minors

Many people confuse guardianship of children with custody. While there may be some overlap, they are not the same. A person who has custody of a child takes care of their day to day needs and makes decisions about their upbringing. A guardian has the duty to oversee the financial estate of a ward. If a child should recover a substantial sum as the result of an injury, or inherits a large sum of money, the Probate Court can appoint a guardian to oversee and safeguard those funds until the child reaches adulthood. A parent typically fills that role, but there are exceptions, depending on the circumstances.

Guardianship of Incapacitated Adults

Sadly, some people, through Alzheimer's, dementia, injury, or other decline in mental and/or physical capacity, can lose the ability to manage their personal and financial affairs. When that happens, it may become necessary to appoint a guardian for them. Guardianships can be established for a person, their estate, or both. This is not a decision that anyone takes lightly, and the prospective ward may object to having a guardianship established. In addition, there may be disagreement among relatives or others as to who should be appointed as guardian.

Legal Services

Once you establish that a guardianship is necessary, I can walk you through the necessary steps. After the guardianship is established, I help you stay in compliance with the law, assisting in drafting the initial accounting and personal report and subsequent annual accountings and reports to the court In between reports, I am always available to answer questions and help you deal with any issues that arise.