Patricia A. Trent Guardianship and Conservatorship Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Understanding Guardianship in Nevada

Friday, April 13, 2012 by Patricia A. Trent

Life is full of decisions. From the simplest agreements to complicated contracts, the ability to navigate life via good decision-making is vital. But if we are senior citizens or disabled persons, we may need others to help make decisions for us. A legal guardian is an individual authorized by a Nevada court to manage the personal and financial interests of another.

Loss of decision-making ability can occur for several reasons, including the following:
-Aphysical condition, such as a stroke, an accident injury, or a debilitating disease
-Dementia
-Mental illness
-Age-related decline

Planning for the future

Estate planning allows you to structure your estate to maximize its worth and enhance its value to your loved ones, as well as create a plan for your own future. Working with an experienced estate planning attorney, you can create valid care documents, including the following:

Declaration governing the withholding or withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. As a living will, a declaration gives explicit directions to health care providers concerning the taking of life-sustaining medical measures if you become terminally ill and unable to communicate.
Durable power of attorney for health care decisions. By appointing a health care proxy, you identify an individual qualified to make needed medical decisions on your behalf.
Financial power of attorney. Choosing a trusted friend or agent to make transactional decisions enables you to safeguard your assets, estate, and financial well-being should you became incapacitated.

Reflecting your own desires and concerns, these documents alleviate the need to create a Las Vegas guardianship should you suffer a debilitating condition. The Nevada Secretary of State offers free registration of advanced medical directives to ensure that health care providers and family know your wishes.

A person found to be incapacitated through a court hearing is known as a ward. A Nevada court may appoint a person or agency to act as guardian for a ward in order to protect him or her from abuse or exploitation, and to look out for his or her personal and economic interests.

Contact us

Guardianship in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada is a complicated legal and personal process. While making the decision to obtain guardianship for a loved one can be difficult, it is the best choice for helping those who can no longer help themselves. Be sure to choose an experienced Las Vegas guardianship attorney at Trent, Tyrell & Associates to assist you in this process. Contact us today.

Trent, Tyrell & Associates
11920 Southern Highlands Parkway #201,
Las Vegas, NV 89141
Phone: (702) 382-2210
Fax: (702) 382-9242
http://www.probatelawlv.com/

Posted at 10:14 AM

Topic: Guardianship and Conservatorship