When someone lacks the capacity to make life-altering decisions for themselves, a guardianship may be necessary for someone else to step in and help them. The legal right to make decisions in the place of another, who is incapable of making those decisions is transferred through Guardianship. The disability could be a legal one, such as not being old enough, or it could be a mental or physical disability. If a minor, for instance, inherits money or is the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, they most likely will need to have a guardian put in place to manage that property for them. The good thing is, once they get old enough, the guardianship goes away. Sadly, many guardianships do not go away, because they are put in place for someone with a persistent or progressive condition such as Alzheimer's type dementia. The person suffering no longer has the ability to manage their affairs, but because they are legally an adult, the court has to step in and transfer their rights to manage their affairs to another. Guardianship is a complex process that requires the assistance of an experienced guardianship attorney. In fact, the law requires a guardian in nearly every case to have an attorney. Personal Attorney Lyon would be happy to answer any of your guardianship and elder law questions.