Los Angeles, CA asked in Family Law and Elder Law for Illinois

Q: My mother fell in her apartment and wasn't found for a period of time. She was not able to give the hospital my number.

Now she a ward of Illinois. I live in California and have identified myself as her daughter to the guardian. What do I have to do to have it dropped? No one (hospital lawyer, social worker) will assist me. Thank you.

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
Cheryl Powell
Cheryl Powell
Answered
  • Mt Vernon, IL
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: Hire a private lawyer who does guardianship for the elderly. State guardianship is theist thing the state ever wants. It is likely that they would want to make sure that you and your mother do not lose contact again. Perhaps she lived at home and is now in a facility? So they can notify you if there is a problem? It is not impossible but it is difficult to be a guardian from afar. Maybe you can move your mother to a facility in CA? Maybe you can find someone else to be guardian for her in Illinois? The guardian is supposed to be a resident where the wRd lives to ge r guardianship.

1 user found this answer helpful

Stephanie Sexauer
Stephanie Sexauer
Answered
  • Elder Law Lawyer
  • Chicago, IL
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: If by "ward of Illinois", you mean she's now legally a disabled person and the Office of the State Guardian was appointed to be her guardian, I think it would make sense for you to reach out to them. They take care of a lot of people who don't have family, and if you're able to keep your mother safe (even from California), they'll likely be happy to help you take over the job.

You should also consider hiring your own attorney who is well-versed in adult guardianship/probate/elder law to help you.

Good luck!

1 user found this answer helpful

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.