Adult guardianship applies to personal and medical decisions. If an adult is mentally incapacitated and does not have a valid Personal Directive, the court can appoint a guardian to make decisions on their behalf.

As a guardian, you may be responsible for decisions such as medical treatment and health care consent, where the adult lives, day-to-day personal care, social activities, and overall well-being. Guardianship is focused on protecting the adult’s dignity, safety, and personal wishes to the greatest extent possible.

Our adult guardianship lawyers in Calgary can help ensure the application is prepared correctly and that the proposed guardianship is appropriate and limited to what is truly needed.

Adult trusteeship applies to financial and property matters. If an adult lacks capacity and does not have an Enduring Power of Attorney, a trustee must be appointed by the court to manage their finances.

As a trustee, you may be responsible for paying bills and managing bank accounts, handling income such as pensions or benefits, managing or selling property, filing taxes, and ensuring the adult’s financial obligations are met. Without a trusteeship order, financial institutions will not allow access to the adult’s accounts.

Our Calgary adult guardianship and trusteeship lawyers can help determine whether trusteeship is required and whether it should be combined with a guardianship application.

In many cases, families apply for both guardianship and trusteeship at the same time. This is common when an adult cannot make either personal or financial decisions and does not have the appropriate planning documents in place.

At DLegal Law Office, we help you prepare for your application by guiding you through the process of gathering supporting documents. These documents include a capacity assessment for your loved one and a background check, so you may successfully apply as a guardian or a trustee. If you are applying to be a trustee, you will need to undergo an additional credit check to make sure you are in good financial standing as well. Once you have gathered all the necessary documents, we will prepare the court application on your behalf.

After the paperwork is complete, we will file the application with the court. The application will be reviewed by a judge. This process usually takes 3-6 months, unless your application is urgent. Reach out to us to discuss your options.

Adult guardianship and trusteeship applications involve sensitive family situations and strict legal requirements. Working with a Calgary lawyer who focuses on adult guardianship and trusteeship helps reduce delays, avoid common mistakes, and ensures the application is handled with care and professionalism.

If you are concerned about a loved one who can no longer make decisions for themselves, speak with our adult guardianship and trusteeship lawyers in Calgary for clarity and peace of mind. We are here to help you protect your loved one and navigate this process with confidence.