Guardianships & Conservatorships
We have experience helping people obtain all types of guardianships and conservatorships to care for loved ones who are not competent to care for themselves and who are unable to make their own decisions on a temporary or permanent basis.
Minor Child Guardianship
We help grandparents, relatives, friends, and stepparents obtain legal guardianship over children when the parents are absent, deceased, or unable to care for their children for any reason. A guardian of a minor can obtain custody of a child and have the legal authority to make most of the decisions a parent would make. A guardian can handle personal decisions, medical decisions, or both. A guardianship of a minor can be for a limited period of time or until the child reaches the age of 18. Unlike adoptions, guardianships do not terminate the parent-child relationship. A parent can consent to a guardianship of his or her child without a finding of parental unfitness
Adult or Elderly Person Guardianship
We help an increasing number of people obtain guardianship over siblings or elderly parents who have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, mental illness, or physical incapacity. Typically, guardianship is necessary when the person has not nominated a health care agent or executed a power of attorney. However, if there are disagreements regarding placement or medical care, a guardianship may be needed even when a child is the health care agent or holder of a power of attorney.
Developmental Disability Guardianship
Parents may need to obtain court-ordered guardianship of a developmentally-disabled child after the child reaches the age of 18 in Idaho. This can authorize the parents to make necessary personal, placement and medical treatment decisions.
Guardian Ad Litem
A Guardian Ad Litem is a lawyer appointed by the court in guardianship proceedings. The Guardian Ad Litem makes independent recommendations to the court by focusing on the needs of each ward. The Guardian ad Litem advocates for the best interests of the ward they represent. We have been selected by judges to represent wards in all types of guardianship cases.
