The Legal Authority to Help the People Who Need You Most

Who Comes to Me for Guardianship Help

Families Seeking Guardianship of a Minor

Sometimes a parent is absent, incapacitated, or no longer able to care for their child. When that happens, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling often steps in — and they need the court's formal recognition to enroll the child in school, make medical decisions, or access benefits. I work with families in exactly that situation, guiding them through the Georgia probate court process step by step.

Adult Children Seeking Guardianship of an Aging Parent

If your parent is declining due to dementia, illness, or injury and there's no valid power of attorney in place, you may find yourself unable to make even basic decisions on their behalf — despite being their closest family member. A court-ordered guardianship is often the only path forward, and I can help you pursue it without unnecessary delay.

Military Families Planning Around Deployment

For Fort Eisenhower families and service members across the CSRA, deployment creates real legal gaps. If something happens while you're overseas — or if a co-parent is unavailable — a guardianship arrangement can give a trusted adult the authority to act. My background as a Navy veteran means I understand these situations from the inside, not just on paper.

Guardian of the Person vs. Guardian of the Property — What's the Difference?

Georgia law draws a clear line between two types of guardianship, and the distinction determines exactly what authority a guardian holds.

Guardian of the Person

A guardian of the person has court-authorized decision-making authority over an individual's personal welfare — where they live, what medical care they receive, and how their daily life is managed. This is the most common form of guardianship sought for both minors and incapacitated adults.

Guardian of the Property (Conservatorship)

A guardian of the property — also called a conservator — manages the financial assets and legal affairs of someone who cannot do so themselves. This role is distinct from personal guardianship and requires separate court authorization. A person can have one, both, or neither depending on their circumstances and what the court determines is appropriate.

How Guardianship Differs from Power of Attorney

This is one of the most common points of confusion I hear from clients. A durable power of attorney is established voluntarily, before a person becomes incapacitated — it's a planning tool. Guardianship is a court-ordered arrangement used when someone is already incapacitated and no valid POA exists. If your parent never signed a power of attorney and can no longer do so now, guardianship is likely the path you need. One conversation is usually enough to figure out which applies to your situation.

When Both Are Needed

In some cases — particularly with aging parents who have significant assets — families need both a guardian of the person and a conservator appointed. I'll help you assess what the situation actually calls for rather than defaulting to the most complicated option.

How the Georgia Guardianship Process Works

Georgia guardianship petitions are filed in the probate court of the county where the proposed ward lives. The process involves several required steps, but it's more manageable than most people expect when you have someone walking you through it.

Here's a general outline of what the process looks like:

• Filing the petition in the appropriate probate court
• Serving notice to required parties, including the proposed ward and close family members
• Completing background checks as required by Georgia law
• Attending an evaluation or hearing where the court reviews the petition
• Receiving the court's order appointing a guardian if the petition is approved
• Fulfilling ongoing reporting requirements if appointed as guardian

Every case has its own details, and timelines vary. What I can tell you is that you won't be handed a stack of forms and left to figure it out alone.

Why Families in Columbia County Choose Towns Law Firm

I'm not a large firm with a rotating cast of associates. When you work with me, you work with me — a Grovetown-based attorney who lives and practices in this community. My non-traditional path to law, including a decade as a Navy linguist and a law degree earned on the GI Bill, shaped how I talk to clients: directly, honestly, and without the performance of legal complexity.

Guardianship matters are emotionally charged. You're often dealing with a parent's decline, a child's instability, or a family situation that nobody planned for. I take that seriously, and I keep the process as clear and low-stress as I can.

Related Legal Tools Worth Understanding

Guardianship doesn't exist in isolation. Depending on your situation, you may also benefit from understanding how it connects to other legal planning options.

If you're researching guardianship for an aging parent, the probate process is a related topic — particularly if estate administration is also on the horizon. And for families who are still in the planning stage, a durable power of attorney or advance directive may accomplish what you need without going to court at all.