Guardianship is a court-supervised legal arrangement in which a guardian receives authority to make certain personal, medical, or financial decisions for another person. The court determines the scope of that authority based on the proposed ward’s needs and abilities.
A guardian must act in the ward’s best interests, follow the court’s orders, maintain required records, and complete ongoing reports or accountings. A guardian of the person may make decisions involving care and living arrangements, while a guardian of the estate may be responsible for managing property and financial matters.
Guardianship differs from powers of attorney, trusts, supported decision-making agreements, and other less restrictive arrangements. Before establishing guardianship, families should evaluate whether an existing or properly prepared planning document can provide the needed authority without ongoing court supervision.
When guardianship is necessary, The Goodson Firm P.C. helps families understand the petition, evaluation, appointment, and reporting requirements. The goal is to identify an arrangement that protects the individual while preserving as much independence as the circumstances allow.
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When you name a guardian in your will or through our estate planning process, you’re designating who will raise your children if both parents pass away or become unable to care for them. This is one of the most important decisions parents make. We help you choose the right guardian, document that choice legally, and ensure it’s binding if needed.
As parents age or when an adult family member becomes ill or disabled, guardianship may become necessary. This involves court proceedings to establish that an individual cannot manage their own affairs, followed by the appointment of a guardian. We guide families through this legal process and help minimize conflict when possible.
In some cases, a court may appoint a guardian to make personal and medical decisions while a separate guardian handles financial matters—or one person may serve in both roles. We clarify these distinctions and help determine which structure fits your situation.
Not every guardianship arrangement needs to be permanent or comprehensive. We can help establish temporary guardianship during a crisis or limited guardianship, in which the ward retains certain rights and responsibilities. These arrangements provide flexibility for families whose circumstances may change.
We start by understanding your situation. If you’re planning guardianship for minor children, we discuss who would be the right fit as guardian, how your estate plan should name them, and what happens if that person is unable or unwilling to serve. If you’re seeking guardianship for an adult family member, we discuss the circumstances, explore whether guardianship is the best option, and outline the required legal steps.
Guardianship in Texas involves specific legal requirements depending on the type you’re establishing. We explain what guardianship means in your situation, what responsibilities the guardian will carry, what court oversight looks like, and whether alternatives — such as a power of attorney or supported decision-making agreement — might accomplish your goals with less legal complexity.
For court-supervised guardianship, we prepare and file all required legal documents, notify interested parties as required by Texas law, and represent you through the hearing process. We handle the procedural requirements so you can focus on your family rather than the paperwork.
Once the court approves the guardianship, the appointed guardian receives Letters of Guardianship — the legal document that authorizes them to act on the ward’s behalf. We walk the guardian through their ongoing responsibilities, reporting requirements, and any limitations the court has placed on their authority.
Guardianship doesn’t end at the appointment. Texas courts require annual reports from guardians, and circumstances change over time. We’re available to help with annual filings, modifications to the guardianship order, and any issues that arise as you fulfill your responsibilities.
Ms. Leigh Goodson was fabulous in giving me advice for my father's situation. She was a wealth of knowledge and recommendations. We will be using her for further estate planning.
Leigh prepared estate documents for myself and my husband, and she did a fantastic job. Everyone at her office was friendly and easy to work with. The process was quick and easy, and we feel so much better knowing our affairs are in order. If anyone needs any estate planning help, I would 100% recommend Leigh and her office!
I knew from my experience working with attorneys for over 30 years that with a blended family my husband and I needed professional estate planning. Ms. Goodson provided us with excellent options and did a very thorough explanation of the pros and cons of each of them. She offered non-judgmental opinions and legal information about the equitable division of our blended families small estate. We chose to go with the more expensive trust option because it would be a simpler and less expensive probate for our children who almost all live out of state. She and her assistant made extra efforts to accommodate our schedule and the entire process was quickly completed. We highly recommend The Goodson Firm. P.C. for your estate planning and probate legal services.
Leigh Goodson is a professional attorney. She is available to clients and is responsive in urgent and standard matters. Her expertise has been very helpful. Highly recommend, The Goodson Firm.
Leigh Goodson is the attorney I trust to take care of my clients, friends, and family. She knows the law and works with her clients to make sure their priorities are addressed appropriately.
The right time to protect your legacy is before you need to. Schedule a confidential consultation and take the first step toward protecting everything you have built and the people who matter most.
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