Skip to Main Content

What to Do If You Are Appointed Guardian of an Older Adult


 Appointed Guardian

Being appointed guardian of a loved one is a serious responsibility. As a guardian, you are in charge of your loved one’s well-being and you have a duty to act in his or her best interest.

If an adult becomes mentally incapacitated and is incapable of making responsible decisions, the court will appoint a substitute decision-maker, often called a “guardian,” but in some states called a “conservator” or another term. Guardianship is a legal relationship between a competent adult (the “guardian”) and a person who because of incapacity is no longer able to take care of his or her own affairs (the “ward”).

If you have been appointed guardian, the following are things you need to know:

Keep Reading Here.

Talk it through with Nicole Ott, our Lead Intake Coordinator. No charge, no pressure.

Book a free consult callor call 978-657-7437

Michael Monteforte, Jr.

Michael Monteforte, Jr.

Founding Attorney

Michael Monteforte, Jr. is the founding attorney of Monteforte Law, P.C., an estate planning and elder law firm in Woburn, Massachusetts. He was admitted to the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in January 2002 and to federal practice in the U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, in March 2006. He has practiced estate planning and elder law in Massachusetts for over twenty years.

Monteforte Law Team

Still Not Sure Where to Begin?

You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a guide. Start with one step, and we’ll walk you through the rest.