Guardianship Lawyer in Southern Illinois

Guardianship is often given to relatives or other non-parental individuals who provide a permanent home for children who have been living in the home of relatives for six consecutive months. Guardianship means that the court appoints you as the child's legal guardian.

When a resident of the State of Illinois turns eighteen years old they are considered an adult and Illinois law considers them capable of making their own decisions. When an adult in Illinois is proven to be disabled, an Illinois circuit court is the only authority who can appoint a guardian to make decisions for a disabled adult. Some of the disabilities that may cause an Illinois circuit court to appoint a guardian include mental deterioration, physical incapacity, mental illness or developmental disabilities.

Guardianship may be appointed by the court for an adult who gambles excessively, uses alcohol or illegal drugs to excess, wastes financial assets to a degree that places burdens on family members and other situations to protect the disabled person or service providers and creditors.