Guardianship and Conservatorship: Caring for those who cannot care for themselves

Our country was founded on the rights of the individual. Our forefathers believed that in a free society, the right to make personal decisions such as where to live or how to spend money was a critical part of human dignity. Our Bill of Rights reflects this belief. Removing an adult’s rights in any way is a particularly serious matter and should only be done when absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, circumstances exist when it is the best course of action to protect adults who otherwise cannot protect themselves such as those who are cognitively incapacitated.