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What is Guardianship?

Guardianship Image Guardians are individuals appointed by a court to protect an "incapacitated person".

An "incapacitated person" is a person who is unable to make decisions about their own care - it does not mean that they are "bad" or "foolish".

Only a judge can decide that a person is "incapacitated", and only a judge can appoint someone to be a guardian.

A "guardian" is someone who is totally in charge of another person's affairs. A "conservator" is someone who is in charge of another person's financial affairs.

Guardianship restricts the decisions that a person may make. A guardianship should be sought as a last resort, when there are no other options left. A guardian may be limited to making specific kinds of decisions, rather than all decisions, if the court decides the limits are appropriate.








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Virginia Department for the Aging
1610 Forest Avenue, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23229
Phone (local):(804) 662-9333, Toll Free 1-800-552-3402 (Nationwide Voice/TTY)
FAX: (804) 662-9354
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