Manhattan Guardianship Attorney

Last updated on December 3, 2025

Guardianships can be used for both minors and incapacitated adults. The individual needs another person to help make their decisions, keeping their best interests in mind. A guardianship often requires a court order, and the court will need to see a definitive reason why it should be put in place and take away the rights of that person to make their own decisions.

This can be a complex process, but we can help here at Doddy Law, PLLC. Lawyer Doddy is known for being focused, compassionate and experienced. If you need a Midtown Manhattan guardianship attorney to provide critical guidance at this time, call for a consultation.

Guardianship For Minors

If the person is a minor, then the adult has to file a petition with the court requesting the guardianship. The court will then set up a hearing where evidence will be presented showing why that person should be appointed as the guardian.

Guardianship For Incapacitated Adults

Under Article 81, you can also become a guardian of an incapacitated adult. However, it must be shown during the hearing that they are unable to manage their own personal affairs. Perhaps they have been incapacitated due to a mental condition or an injury, or due to health conditions like heart attacks or strokes.

It is also important to note that the court can provide limited guardianship powers. In some cases, a guardian has control over the person’s care and individual needs, along with their finances. In other cases, they are just given control over one aspect of the person’s life.

Finally, a legal guardianship can be set up using a guardian ad litem. This is a bit different from a traditional guardian in the sense that it is only used in a specific situation. For instance, perhaps the person is going through a court case, and a guardian ad litem needs to be appointed to represent their best interests during that case.