Establishing A Guardianship In Texas
Sometimes, it can be difficult to know how to help our loved ones when they aren’t able to help themselves. At Reekie Law PLLC, we help families throughout the Houston area with legal challenges that affect their families, including establishing guardianships. Our firm was founded by attorney Jennifer Reekie. As a family lawyer and estate planning attorney, she understands changing family dynamics and the legal challenges that life transitions present.
As a guardianship attorney, she has extensive experience helping families make difficult decisions regarding their family members, including establishing a guardianship. By customizing our legal services to meet our clients’ unique goals, we help families in the Houston metro with guardianship proceedings from our office in The Woodlands.
Understanding Guardianships In Texas
When someone cannot care for themselves, the Texas courts can appoint a guardian through a guardianship proceeding. This might be necessary if someone has a disability, illness or injury that prevents them from making their own decisions and commonly arises in elder law scenarios. The guardian has the legal authority to make decisions about the person’s well-being such as where they live, their medical care and other personal matters. A guardianship attorney can help you through the guardian appointment process, including facilitating a capacity evaluation and advocating for your interests during a guardianship hearing.
What Is The Difference Between A Guardianship And A Conservatorship?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction. A guardianship involves making decisions about a person’s care and well-being. There can be a guardianship of the person, in which the ward receives assistance with decisions about their well-being such as living arrangements or medical care. A guardianship over the estate provides assistance with the ward’s financial affairs.
In the state of Texas, conservatorship typically refers to minor children and is used to define child custody in a divorce or in a scenario where a minor child’s parents are deceased.
Establishing Guardians For Minor Children
Naming a guardian is an important part of crafting a comprehensive estate plan for parents with minor children. Parents can include a guardianship clause in their will, designating who they want to care for their children if something happens to them. An experienced estate planning lawyer who has experience with guardianship proceedings can provide invaluable guidance when preparing an estate plan.
Consult A Houston Guardianship Attorney
At Reekie Law PLLC, our guardianship attorney is available by appointment to answer your questions. If you think you may need a guardianship attorney, call us to schedule an appointment at 832-940-7555. You can also send us a message through our website.