“When a loved one can’t make decisions, Florida guardianship gives you the legal authority to protect them.”
Guardianship is a legal process in Florida that allows a responsible adult to make important decisions on behalf of someone who can no longer manage their own personal, medical, or financial affairs. As a Miami guardianship attorney, I help families navigate this court-supervised process with clarity, compassion, and step-by-step support.
Guardianship becomes necessary when a person cannot make safe, informed decisions due to age, disability, incapacity, or medical crisis. The court appoints a Guardian to act in the best interest of the individual (called the Ward) and grants authority to manage their daily needs, healthcare, money, and long-term wellbeing.
Who Needs Guardianship?
Minor Children
A Guardianship may be needed when:
- A minor receives an inheritance, settlement, or lawsuit proceeds
- Both parents are unable to care for the child
- Parents pass away unexpectedly
- A child requires long-term decision-making support
This ensures the child’s assets and personal needs are protected until they become adults.
Adults With Disabilities
Guardianship (or Guardian Advocacy) helps individuals who are 18+ and unable to make decisions due to:
- Intellectual disabilities
- Developmental disabilities
- Autism
- Down syndrome
- Significant cognitive limitations
Parents often use this process when a child with special needs turns 18 and needs lifelong support.
Elderly Adults
Guardianship can protect seniors suffering from:
- Dementia
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Stroke
- Serious illness
- Cognitive decline
A Guardian ensures the person’s bills, medical care, and safety are managed when they can no longer do so themselves.
✔Adults Incapacitated by Illness or Emergency
Guardianship may be required after:
- A medical emergency
- Severe accident
- Mental health crisis
- Long-term hospitalization
It allows family members to legally step in during moments of vulnerability.
What a Guardian Can Do
Depending on the type of guardianship, a Guardian may:
- Make medical and healthcare decisions
- Manage finances, property, and bills
- Arrange living situations and daily support
- Protect the Ward from exploitation
- Authorize treatments or services
- Handle legal or administrative matters
The court tailors the Guardian’s powers to the Ward’s needs — from limited guardianship to full guardianship.
Why Families Choose Our Firm for Guardianship
- Clear explanation of options: Guardianship, Guardian Advocacy, Alternatives, and Advance Directives
- Guidance through the entire Florida court process
- Culturally sensitive, bilingual support (English & Spanish)
- Experience with minors, elders, adults with disabilities, and cross-border families
- Compassionate, family-centered approach
Guardianship is about protecting the people you love most, and we ensure the process is handled with care, efficiency, and respect.