Helping Colorado Families Through the Guardianship and Conservatorship Process
It can be difficult to see your elder loved ones struggling with diminished mental or physical capacities. You are concerned that they may become victims of financial fraud or other scams, and you are worried about their safety. You may know that the law provides you options to care for older parents or family members who are no longer able to handle their own medical and financial affairs, but you don't know where to begin.
At the Colorado Springs law office of Kirtland & Seal, L.L.C., we have devoted our legal practice to helping clients establish guardianships and conservatorships to protect the people they care about most. With over 25 years of combined elder law experience, our attorneys will guide you through the appointment process with knowledge, compassion and commitment.
We invite you to call 719-387-9852 or contact us online to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation.
Meeting the Needs of the Elderly
When adults lose the ability to care for themselves and make important decisions, the can become vulnerable to many kinds of dangers, including financial and physical. In these situations, conservatorships and guardianships can be very helpful tools to give everyone involved peace of mind that financial and personal matters will be taken care of properly:
- Conservatorship: Court-appointed authority over the financial and business affairs of a person.
- Guardianship: Court-appointed authority over the day-to-day welfare of a person, including medical treatment, housing and general safety.
These responsibilities can be split between two people, but often one person serves as both guardian and conservator.
If You Face Difficult Choices, Count Our Us to Be Your Guide
We will be at your side throughout the appointment process. Well-respected in the state and national elder law community, our lawyers Michael Kirtland and Catherine Seal have extensive experience representing people involved in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings.
It is difficult to watch someone you care about suffering. If a loved one is losing their mental capacity because of an injury, dementia or Alzheimer's, we will represent you and petition the Probate Court for the authority you need to protect them. This process can be legally and procedurally complex, and it is important to have the help of an experienced elder law attorney to avoid pitfalls. Once the conservatorship and guardianship has been established, we will provide ongoing guidance regarding your obligations and duties.
Sometimes older adults do not want to give up their independence. If you are an older adult, it can be hard to watch your freedom and rights slip away just because your children are worried. We will aggressively protect your interests, whether you want to modify the scope of the authority granted to a guardian or conservator so that you retain more autonomy, or you oppose having a guardian or conservator entirely.
There are alternatives to guardianships and conservatorships. We help families explore and understand ways to care for elderly parents to ensure their financial and physical safety short of involvement by the Probate Court.
It can be difficult to come to agreements about conservatorships and guardianships. We handle disputes regarding who should be appointed, the scope of that person's authority and whether or not a guardian or conservator should be appointed at all.
Benefit From Our 25 Years of Combined Experience
If you need an elder law attorney in the Colorado Springs area, including El Paso and Teller Counties, call 719-387-9852 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We will take the time to understand your situation and explain the options available to you.
Our office is located in downtown Colorado Springs in the Wells Fargo Tower, with free underground parking available. We are happy to meet with you between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and between 9 a.m. and noon on Fridays. Appointments at other times and in other locations are also available.
