Guardianship Attorneys in Madison, WI

If you are seeking a temporary or permanent guardianship of a child or an adult, we can help you handle your guardianship matter. A minor guardianship is a way for a parent to seek the help of others in caring for their child when they are not a position to do so, or to allow grandparents or other caring adults the opportunity to be there for a child when a parent cannot. Similarly, if an adult is not in a position to make their own decisions, another caring adult can step in and provide important assistance as they navigate healthcare, financial, or housing decisions.

Minor Guardianships

We provide representation for individuals who are seeking temporary or permanent guardianship of a child. Guardianship is a legal relationship in which one party is empowered to act for the benefit of another.  A guardian is given the legal authority to make important decisions about the child's life, such as their education, medical needs, housing, and more. Guardianship transfers the decision-making authority and legal responsibility of the child to the guardian; however, parents’ rights are not terminated. Parents may sometimes still make decisions regarding any rights not given to the guardian.  A guardianship may be important for grandparents caring for their grandchildren, or for children whose parents are temporarily unavailable to care for them. There are several different kinds of minor guardianships: emergency, temporary, limited, and full. 

Adult Guardianships

An adult who is determined to be unable to make personal or financial decisions by a doctor or psychologist may need a guardian. Guardianship laws require that a person needing assistance with decision making should have this done with methods that are "least restrictive" to personal liberty and their ability to exercise their rights. We provide services for parents and others who may need to become guardians of an individual with a disability when they turn age 18, or of an adult who has become incapacitated by cognitive impairments related to a degenerative brain disorder, serious and persistent mental illness, or other like incapacities. In order to have a legally authorized decision-maker for another person, the court must be petitioned for a guardian to be appointed.