When most people think of guardianships and conservatorships, they are reminded of pop star Britney Spears's case. Spears was at the height of fame when her father assumed conservatorship over her finances and personal affairs in 2008. Guardianships have their...
The pros and cons of conservatorships
Guardianships and conservatorships in Florida are similar court rulings. They differ in that guardianship tends to be for persons under the age of 18. Conservatorships, on the other hand, tend to be put in place for adults. Anytime someone is unable to manage an...
What to consider when thinking of a conservatorship
Should a Florida resident become unable to make their own financial and personal decisions, their family might consider starting a conservatorship. A conservatorship grants a person, known as the conservator, the legal responsibility of making all their decisions...
The difference between a guardianship and a conservatorship
In many states, conservatorship is guardianship for adults. Florida, however, uses the term conservatorship to refer to absentee situations. Guardianships apply to both minors and adults. Absentees An absentee is someone who has gone missing due to mental illness or...
Power of attorney vs guardianship: the benefits of planning ahead
When incapacitation keeps people from being able to fully care for themselves, someone must take over those duties. An estate planning document called a durable power of attorney allows people to authorize someone to make decisions and act on their behalf. If there is...
3 tips for picking your children’s guardian
It is hard to think about not caring for your children if something happened to you. But naming a guardian is one of the most important parts of the estate planning process if you have minor children. According to a survey conducted by Caring.com, only 4 out of every...
Should you agree to be a guardian for someone?
If you have close family or friends with children, they may ask you to be a guardian. In your role as a guardian, you will undertake the responsibilities of caring for the children named in the guardianship and providing them with a stable and loving home. While...
Named a guardian of the property – Now what?
Due to age, illness or other factors, you may take on the management of the money and property of a loved one who is unable to make financial decisions for themselves. To gain the legal authority to provide this type of assistance to your family member, you may seek...
What constitutes as abuse of power of attorney?
A power of attorney is supposed to be a trusted individual whom a testator appoints to carry out his or her wishes in the event of death or incapacity. This designation gives a person the power to open and close bank accounts, conduct financial transactions, make...
You can avoid a guardianship with other estate planning documents
The average age of the population across the country, including here in Palm Beach, is on the rise. People are living longer due to advances in the medical field, which many would agree is a good thing. However, with this comes the possibility of spending the last...
