Considerations for Guardianship & Medical Decision-Making

Parenting is a lifelong process, and it is particularly so for parents of children with serious illness, where the child’s chronological age may not correspond with their developmental baseline. While your child is a minor, you can make all medical decisions for them just by virtue of being their parent. But when your child reaches adulthood (age 18 in most states), their legal status changes, and they are now presumed to be capable of making all major decisions on their own, regardless of their disability. This can create many problems for parents and others who are caring for them. However, many of these problems can be avoided if you go to court to become your child’s legal guardian. Having guardianship lets you make medical decisions for your child and provide uninterrupted access to medical care and supports.