Indiana Guardianship Lawyer
Trusted Advocacy for Guardianship Cases in Valparaiso, Lafayette, and Granger
When a loved one becomes incapacitated, it can be a very difficult time for families. However, the family must take the time to explore all of their options to ensure that the incapacitated individual is provided for in the best way possible. One option that many people consider is guardianship.
At Rice & Rice, we have a team of experienced guardianship lawyers in Valparaiso, IN, who can help determine if guardianship is the right option for your family. We can help you navigate the court process and provide legal assistance during the guardianship period. Our team of attorneys has decades of experience working with families throughout Indiana, and we have offices in Valparaiso, South Bend, and Lafayette.
Call Rice & Rice today at (219) 240-0450 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with US! Serving clients across Indiana, Illinois and Michigan from our offices in Lafayette, Valparaiso and Granger.
What Is Guardianship?
Guardianship is a legal relationship in which a guardian can make crucial decisions for the person being cared for or ward. The guardian is responsible for the care and well-being of the loved one who is incapacitated and must report to the court regularly to ensure that the loved one receives the best care. The guardian is also responsible for managing financial affairs and property.
If you are considering guardianship, you must understand what it entails. A guardian is responsible for caring for the individual daily and must ensure that the incapacitated loved one receives the care they need. A guardian is also responsible for managing finances and reporting to the court regularly.
When Is Guardianship the Right Option?
In several situations, guardianship may be the right option for your family. Mainly, if your loved one is no longer able to make important decisions due to a medical condition, it is likely time to set up guardianship for them.
When Is Guardianship the Wrong Option?
Guardianship is intended to provide legal authorization to a person so that they may make important decisions regarding the care, well-being, and finances of your loved one. It may not be necessary if they are incapacitated and can still make their own decisions and are of sound mind. Additionally, it cannot be authorized if your loved one can manage their affairs and does not want guardianship.
Guardianship is a serious legal relationship that requires a court order, and the court will carefully consider the individual's wishes before granting it. If the individual does not want guardianship, the court may not grant it. However, individuals who do not want guardianship may change their minds once they understand the benefits of guardianship.
Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney
In Indiana, as in many other states, guardianship and power of attorney are legal mechanisms used to make decisions on behalf of another person, but they serve different purposes and have different implications.
Here are the key differences between guardianship and power of attorney in Indiana:
Purpose
- Guardianship: Typically sought when a loved one is deemed legally incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves.
- Power of Attorney: Allows a competent individual (the principal) to appoint an attorney-in-fact to make specific decisions or manage certain affairs on their behalf. The principal retains decision-making capacity and can revoke the POA at any time.
Initiation
- Guardianship: Initiated via a petition filed in court by an interested party, such as a family member or a concerned individual, who believes someone is incapacitated and needs a guardian. The court determines whether guardianship is necessary.
- Power of Attorney: Initiated by the principal, who creates the document voluntarily while they are of sound mind. The principal chooses their agent and specifies the powers granted in the POA.
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Granger Reviews
Setting up my trust with rice and rice was the best experience because they took their time went over everything. I was able to comprehend the trust in layman’s terms. Thank you to Jeff and Tom at the Granger office also to Crystal! - Sarlin Y.
I've dealt with a lot of attorney's in my profession and don't have a very high opinion of many of them. They all are expensive and Cliff is no exception but I found him to be kind, knowledgeable and I was happy with what I received. The staff was very friendly and supportive. - Trina H.
Great service. Tom explained everything in terms we could understand. We suggest Rice and Rice for your all your estate planning and elder law issues. - Cheryl V.
Tom was most excellent, helpful, and informative. A pleasure to meet and get his help with our Trust. - Philip V.
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Lafayette Reviews
Our experience with Rice and Rice was very favorable. All of the attorneys were friendly and very helpful in explaining our situation while walking us through our options. The Lafayette staff (Melody and Crystal) were super gracious in facilitating our requests and meeting our needs. I cannot say enough about this faith-based organization and would highly recommend their services. Thank you. - Larry S.
Very knowledgeable, helpful, & thorough. All of their staff is wonderful! Thank you for helping us secure the future for our family! - Angela H.
Cliff is very knowledgeable and guide you through making some very important decisions with his information that he provides. Cheri and I are very impressed! - George K.
Super great service, and really high on education of the clients. Everything is explained, especially super detailed and clear to the point that you easily understand every step you’re going through. - Aimee N.
A great experience, Am glad I have used Rice and Rice to prepare my estate. Very professional and very responsive to my questions and needs. I highly recommend them for estate planning. - Daniel N.
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Valparaiso Reviews
Anyone can go anywhere for estate planning, but at Rice & Rice they really connect with you. Your stories and tears are really more than just stories and tears. I highly recommend & very thankful for them! - Roman M.
Rice & Rice are very professional and they were very helpful. I have delt with them since 2003 and have always had such good advice. Amy also helped me and she is great. She made me feel comfortable and helped me understand what might have been confusing to me. Thank you! - Sharon K.
We are grateful for the attorneys and staff at Rice & Rice. From our first appointment we knew they were the perfect fit for us. They have the knowledge and experience in elder law and estate planning to help us ensure that our wishes are fully documented and will be easily understood by our family. We now have peace of mind as we go forward in life. You do have a choice. Ours was Rice & Rice. - Lori F.
Cliff was excellent. Very informative and eye opening. Food was excellent. Service was excellent. Music was soothing. Crystal was very helpful. We look forward to meeting with him and the rest of his staff on Friday! - Pete B.
Superior in every single respect! In my life's work, attorneys were my clients. I can quickly state that Rice & Rice is the most comprehensive, efficient, and truly caring from top to bottom. The complicated areas are detailed to you, completely provided in an organized book, and you are left knowing all will be well and your contact with Rice and Rice is easily completed. They care for the most important decisions of your life for yourself and your family in the most top notch way possible. You will have complete peace of mind and complete trust when you work with this firm. My recommendation could not be stronger! - Anna B.
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