Limited Guardianship, cont'd

A limited guardianship is generally preferable to full guardianship because it maximizes a person’s choice and control options and encourages maximum independence for people. The court will not always offer limited guardianship as an option. It is okay and appropriate for the petitioner to ask for limited guardianship as a less restrictive alternative to full guardianship.

On a similar note, it is okay to identify specific areas – even if relatively small in scope – in which a person may retain rights. Examples of rights retained by a person under a limited guardianship include:

• Determining living arrangements
• Spending small amounts of money
• Making and communicating choices about roommates
• Consenting to medical treatment
• Initiating and following a schedule of daily and leisure activities
• Establishing and maintaining personal relationships with friends and relatives
• Creating a will
• Determining degree of participation in religious activities

<Back - Next>