Salt Lake City Guardianship Attorney

Providing Effective Legal Solutions to Protect Children and the Elderly

Not every family in Salt Lake City has a traditional family structure. In some cases, children may not have a mother or father to provide care or make legal decisions on their behalf. Many times, a grandparent, relative, stepparent or family friend may need to take over parental duties. Guardianship provides a nonparent the authority over another person, usually children or the elderly.

My name is Melvin A. Cook and I am a Salt Lake City guardianship attorney. Guardianship is more limited than custody, mainly because a guardian has less decision-making power for a ward than a parent has for a child. If certain conditions are met, Utah courts may create either a limited guardianship or normal guardianship. The child’s age is often the determining factor between the two. Utah law allows up to three guardians for any one minor child. A guardianship proceeding is also a good time to draw up a will other testamentary documents, which I can help prepare for you.

How to Petition for Guardianship in Salt Lake City

Obtaining guardianship can be a lengthy and sometimes complicated process. As an experienced Salt Lake City guardianship attorney, I can help clients navigate through the legal process to ensure the best possible results. The person who is the subject of the guardianship is referred to as the ward and will undergo a psychological evaluation and will be appointed their own attorney. By applying for guardianship, you will need to define which types of authority you will have over the ward. A person awarded guardianship will be able to perform the following functions:

• Ensure the ward’s needs are met
• Make all decisions regarding the ward’s living arrangements, education, health care expenses and end of life issues.
• Properly maintain the ward’s finances by making purchase decisions and paying all bills and expenses.

Because obtaining guardianship can be complicated, I can help assist with completing paperwork and filing court orders on your behalf. As your guardianship lawyer, I am committed to protecting the rights of each client and the ward.

Can a Person Become a Guardian for an Adult?

In many cases, an elderly person that is mentally or physically incapacitated may need a guardian to make important decisions regarding their everyday life. As your Salt Lake City guardianship attorney, I place a priority in help clients obtain guardianships to protect the welfare of their loved one.

Contact a Salt Lake City Guardianship Attorney Today

The process of obtaining a guardianship does not happen overnight. It can be a highly complex time-consuming process which requires assistance from an experienced family law attorney. It is important to seek representation from a legal professional with a significant track record of protecting the rights of clients and their ward. At the Law Office of Melvin A. Cook, my team of legal professionals and I utilize a compassionate and comprehensive approach when it comes to guardianship cases.