Guardianship

Naming yourself or another person as legal guardian for your special needs minor, young adult, or any loved one may be the most important decision in a lifetime. Weaver Firm Attorneys are here to help.

You may also want to consider a Special Needs Trust to provide an enhanced life for your special needs child  or loved one, and still maintain government benefits.   

To learn more about the importance of guardianship and loss of access for parents when a special needs child turns 18, check out our blog post, "Protect Your Young Adult  - Become a Legal Guardian."

Schedule a phone, zoom, or in person legal consultation with Travis Weaver, attorney, to visit about guardianships. Give us a call at 817-638-2022  to book your meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guardianship

A legal guardian assumes many of the responsibilities of a legal parent, even if the child is over age 18, including basic provisions such as food and housing. Below are some commonly asked questions: 

What is guardianship in Texas and how does it work?

A guardianship provides court-supervised care for 

• A minor--a child under the age of 18 
• An adult (child or other loved one over the age of 18) who cannot care for themselves. This situation is also described as "incapacitated." 

A guardian is the person appointed by a court to be responsible for a "ward," the child or adult who cannot care for themselves and/or for the property of this person.  

• A ward is the child or adult being cared for by the guardian.     
• A guardianship of the person deals specifically with the personal and living arrangements regarding the ward. 
• A guardianship of the estate deals with control over the financial assets of the ward.

What can a Guardian do (or not do)?

Unless the guardian's duties are restricted by the court, the guardian of the person is entitled to the charge and control of the ward including--  

• The right to have physical possession of the ward and to establish the ward's domicile (home)
• The duty of care, control and protection of the ward. 
• The duty to provide the ward with clothing, food, medical care and shelter. 
• The power to consent to medical, psychiatric and surgical treatment.

I believe a family member needs a guardian. What should I do?

• Texas law has very specific procedures for proving the need for a guardianship and having a guardian appointed. These procedures are too complicated to undertake without a lawyer's help. Most courts will not consider guardianship applications filed by non-lawyers. 
• In order to be granted a guardianship, incapacity--the inability to care for oneself--must be proven. Clear and convincing evidence—a very high standard--must be presented. 
• Unless the proposed ward is a minor, a certificate from a doctor who has examined the proposed ward must be filed with the court. There are specific requirements for the certificate, and it must be dated within 120 days of the filing of the application for guardianship. You should consult an attorney for the specific requirements before the doctor conducts the examination which forms the basis for the certificate. 
• The court will appoint an attorney, called an attorney ad litem, to represent the proposed ward, since the granting of a guardianship takes away some of the ward's civil rights. Texas courts typically employ the doctrine of least restrictive alternatives in guardianship cases, taking away as few of the ward's rights as possible and giving the guardian only those rights and powers necessary to protect the ward or the ward's property.

What is the priority for guardianship appointment?

If the court decides that a guardian is needed, Texas law provides a priority list for choosing the guardian. 

Because of these priorities, it is important to consider designating persons to serve as guardian. This is especially important if someone needs to be disqualified from serving as guardian, especially if a non-relative is preferred.  

If the ward is a minor, the following persons have priority in the following order: 

1. Parents 
2. Person designated by the last surviving parent of the ward in a properly executed designation of guardian the nearest ascendant in the direct line of the minor (ascendants are grandparents, great-grandparents, etc.) 
3. Next of kin 
4. A non-relative 

If the ward is an adult, the following persons have priority in the following order: 

1. Person designated by the ward prior to his or her incapacity in a properly executed designation of guardian in some cases 
2. Person designated by the last surviving parent of the ward in a properly executed designation of guardian 
3. Ward's spouse 
4. Next of kin 
5. A non-relative 

If more than one person of the same priority wishes to be guardian, the court chooses the one who is best qualified to serve. In considering priority, it is important to note that the court has the authority to skip over a person higher on the priority list if the court finds that person to be ineligible.  

 What are the duties of the Guardian of the Estate? 

• In general, a guardian of the estate is a fiduciary and is held to the high standards to which all fiduciaries are held in caring for the estate of the ward. 
• The guardian of the estate is required to post a bond in an amount set by the court to assure that the guardian fulfills his or her duties. 
• Generally the guardian is reimbursed for the cost of the premium from the ward's estate. The guardian of the estate also is required to publish a notice to creditors in a local newspaper and file an inventory of the ward's assets. 
• Each year, the guardian of the estate is required to file an annual account, detailing the receipts and disbursements during the year.  
• When the guardianship terminates, the guardian must file a final account. The annual and final accounts are complicated enough that a lawyer's assistance is needed.

How much does setting up a guardianship cost? 

• Guardianship law is designed to protect the rights and interests of the ward. 
• The law does this  by establishing procedures intended to assure guardian compliance with the rules. 
• These procedures usually necessitate extensive lawyer involvement. Establishing a guardianship can be expensive, and the costs of administering a guardianship of the estate can easily exceed the annual income of the estate. For this reason, it is usually a good idea to see if there are alternatives to a guardianship before starting down the guardianship path.