About Guardianship
Establishing legal guardianship allows you to assume the responsibility for the care of a loved one when he/she is no longer able to do so for themselves or has some limitations in caring for himself/herself (financially, medically, etc.). It also can apply to minor children or special needs children.
Guardianship is designed to protect incapacitated persons’ rights and welfare and safeguard their assets. It can be a complicated process that is best performed by an experienced attorney. Contact us to tell us about your situation.
Reasons for Establishing Legal Guardianship
- A parent has Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other incapacitating medical condition
- Mom / Dad shouldn’t be driving
- Loved one does not have the capacity to sell the house or manage financial affairs
- Loved one cannot take care of him or herself
- A disabled child becomes an adult
- Minors are to receive assets (life insurance, inheritance, etc.)
What Is the Difference Between a Guardian and a Conservator?
While both guardianships and conservatorships are legal relationships that give one party the right to make decisions for another, guardians are appointed to care for people considered incapacitated, and conservators are appointed to protect people’s financial interests. Guardianship versus conservatorship is an important distinction to understand.
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Why Sherri M Stinson P.A.?
- Worry-Free Appointments – We offer safe in-person appointments OR will make a personalized Zoom appointment with your client concierge.
- Focused Legal Practice – Our firm has always concentrated on wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, asset protection, guardianship, long-term care plans, and closely related areas of estate law
- No Hidden Fees – Know the costs before starting (in most situations)
- Experienced – In our 15+ years in business, we’ve helped numerous families protect their legacy and plan for their future
- Alignment with Family Values – we help you consider family dynamics that better ensure your values are carried on.
- Custom Plans and Solutions – You and your family are unique. That’s why we don’t use fill-in-the-blank form documents. Your plan is YOUR Custom Plan. Together we create plans that best fulfill your goals and priorities
- Highly Responsive – We strive for rapid return calls. No going dark or waiting days to hear back
- Proactive Approach – We help clients prevent legal problems and mistakes before they happen
- Client Education Focused – You’ll get a clear and concise understanding of each step in the process.
- We’re Here For You Afterwards – After creating your plan, we periodically check in with you and keep you informed and can meet to review changes in your assets, situation, or wishes.
- Highly Reviewed & Rated – 9.7/10.0 rating by respected legal website Avvo, 4.7 review rating on Google, 5-star review rating on Yelp, and Martindale-Hubble AV-Preeminent Rated Attorney. See some of our client reviews below.
Elder Guardianship
Watching your loved ones grow older can be overwhelming. Cognitive decline is a normal sign of aging, causing once sharp minds to become hazy. While many seniors can still make decisions and manage their affairs, others become incapacitated. The cognitive decline is too significant, and they can no longer manage their health, financial, or personal needs. Sadly, many people never plan for situations where they cannot manage their own affairs. If your loved one is incapacitated, you can apply for guardianship.
Guardian Responsibilities
If you are appointed as a guardian, you will have numerous responsibilities. These responsibilities might include:
- Managing property and finances
- Handing health care needs
- Ensuring the loved one has adequate housing
- Taking care of personal needs
- Submitting detailed plans and physician’s reports each year
Types of Adult Guardianships
Maintaining personal liberty and autonomy is essential. Because of that, Florida’s judges choose the least restrictive type of guardianship possible for incapacitated adults. When a judge determines that the adult can manage some but not all tasks, he or she will order a limited guardianship. There are two types of limited guardianships in Florida: of the person and of the property. This limits the decisions the guardian can make, allowing the individual to maintain some autonomy.
However, if the incapacitated person cannot manage any duties, the court will appoint a plenary guardian. Then, the guardian manages the person’s financial, health, and personal needs. This is the most restrictive type of guardianship and is only issued when the petitioner can prove that the individual cannot reasonably manage any duties or responsibilities.
Client Reviews– Sherri M Stinson Estate Planning
Actual Words Clients Have Used to Describe Us & Their Experience:
“excellent advice to establish a Living Trust that has so many advantages over my previous plan”, “caring and thoughtful”, “attentive and professional”, “preparing highly individualized documents representing my wishes and brought them to my home for signing”, ”helped us determine our needs”, “professional and extremely knowledgeable”, “takes the time to listen and understand her client’s issue”, “explains the process and answers all questions thoroughly”, “developed a plan for our minor child”, “comfortable atmosphere”, “very easy to work with”, “anyone looking to have peace of mind”, “as an investment, the price was reasonable and well spent”, “very patient and explains everything until you have a complete understanding”, “didn’t rush us”, “knowledgeable of FL law”, “we have a sense of security”, “they understood my needs”, “thorough, efficient, kind and caring”, “provided a customized plan”, “even consulted with her ethics board to make sure she could properly and ethically handle our complicated matter”, “walked us through each step”, “patiently answered all our questions”, “made it as easy as it can be”, “fantastic customer service, “they are extremely thorough”, “if there were one thing I would change is I would do this sooner”, “took our wishes and put together our documents in a timely manner”
If these things are what you are looking for in a law firm then contact us to see how we can help you and your family.
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We help families in Palm Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Oldsmar, and throughout Pinellas County and outside of Florida when issues need to be handled for a family member’s estate within the state of Florida.
Locally, clients come to us from Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, Oldsmar, Largo, Clearwater, St Pete, Seminole, Madeira Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Gulfport, Treasure Island, Belleair, South Pasadena, Redington, Tierra Verde, Bay Pines, Ridgecrest, Bardmoor, Gandy and throughout Pinellas County.
What To Do Now:
We welcome your questions and want to understand your situation to help you move forward and achieve the peace of mind that comes with having everything done properly and efficiently. Don’t let everything you’ve worked for just slip away due to a lack of proper planning. Invest the time now to learn your options by speaking with us and making choices that best protect your legacy and wishes. Call us for one-on-one assistance at (727) 351-7057(727) 351-7057 with your questions, a description of your situation, or to schedule a consultation. You may also simply fill out the form above on this page. Your form will be directly emailed to our office. You can expect a reply within one business day and often within hours the same day. All information is confidential.
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Sherri Stinson was the attorney who helped my brother and me settle the estate of our late uncle. She made this difficult time for us much easier. She was extraordinary! Not only was she professional, she was patient, tactful, and kind. A very sharp lady! Worth every penny she was paid! Coming from a family of attorneys, we were very impressed. She’s Awesome!
- Helen
Very Communicative And Very Understanding
I highly recommend Sherri Stinson if you’re looking for an outstanding attorney. She helped me settle the estate of my uncle who lives in Florida. She’s not only very bright and knowledgeable of FL law, but she’s kind and patient! Even though I live in Kentucky, she was able to help me through the process with little effort on my part. Her help was literally invaluable and her charge very reasonable.
- Lucy Ferguson