Watching a parent decline in physical or mental health is a difficult part of life. If you have noticed your parent forgets to pay important bills or fails to attend to his or her health care needs, you may feel compelled to step in and help. Unfortunately, not everyone understands when they need such help. Nevertheless, you may notice that without your assistance, your loved one may be struggling. In such cases, many find themselves investigating the benefits of seeking guardianship for their parents.
Because of privacy rules and other laws, you may not have the legal capacity to handle many of the issues your loved one is struggling with. Unless your parent has granted you power of attorney, his or her doctors will be unable to share critical medical information with you, and financial institutions will not permit you access to your loved one's accounts. By obtaining guardianship, you will have the legal authority to control the financial and medical decisions of your parent.
