What is guardianship?

It is important to have assigned a medical decision maker (medical power of attorney) and a financial decision maker (durable power of attorney) in advance to make decisions for you. If you lose your mental function and the ability to make decisions on your own, and you have not assigned these decision makers in advance, the state may need to assign a guardian to help make decisions for you. This legal process is lengthy, expensive, and often emotionally taxing for loved ones. Thus, it’s critical to assign an alternate decision maker now to avoid going through the guardianship process.