Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Area Guardianship Lawyers
Estate planning law firm in Berwyn, Wyomissing, Scranton, Wilmington and Washington, D.C. area
Guardianship is a legal relationship between a caretaker and ward. The guardian is charged with managing the affairs of the ward, which can include medical, financial or both, depending on the level of control necessary for the person’s well-being and benefit.
McAndrews Law Offices was founded in 1982 to provide comprehensive, effective legal representation to the families of individuals with disabilities and to parents arranging their estate plans that involve their minor children.
Arranging for guardianship through your last will
Minor children typically need substantial guidance about many matters. We draft a last will that names people you trust to give your children the best care possible if you should pass while they are still too young to care for themselves.
Guardianship of an adult with disabilities
The family of a disabled individual often faces difficult decisions regarding the appropriateness of guardianship when the disabled child reaches the age of majority. You want your child to develop independence, but you may have reservations about his or her ability to make sound medical and financial judgments. We help you determine the level and nature of assistance necessary and whether to seek guardianship. If guardianship is needed, we guide you through the court process in a prompt and cost-efficient manner.
Power of attorney
Another option for an adult with disabilities is to grant power of attorney (POA) to a trusted authorized agent. The POA allows for more flexibility than guardianship status and often presents a helpful option when your child becomes an adult. In order to execute a power of attorney, the maker must have the capacity to understand that he is appointing an agent to make decisions on his behalf.
Our fee structure
McAndrews Law Offices informs you about your fees up front so you always know what to expect. We charge reasonable fees to establish and administer guardianship in the courts. Our base fee for an uncontested Guardianship proceedings for Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and Maryland is $4,750.00 (New Jersey is $4,000.00), and we ask that payment of this fee be submitted before we begin work. This fee anticipates up to 8 hours of work, which is sufficient to complete a typical guardianship. If the case exceeds that, we would bill hourly. We bill hourly if another party contests the guardianship and in most cases involving mental health diagnoses.
Our fee for a power of attorney is $150.00 and an hourly rate is charged for a meeting to evaluate whether a person has the capacity to execute a Power of Attorney.
Learn about guardian options from dedicated Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. area attorneys
Consult PA, DE, MD, and Washington, D.C. area guardian attorneys at McAndrews Law Offices at 610.648.9300 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.