Attorney, Court, and Guardianship or Conservatorship Fees
There are costs associated with bringing a guardianship or conservatorship case. There are filing fees and other court costs as well as the fee of the attorney who prepares the case.
Conservators
A conservator takes care of the protected person's assets and income. A conservator's actions are reviewed by the court.
Definitions of Legal Terms in Guardianships and Conservatorships
The legal terms used in guardianship and conservatorship can be confusing.
Determining if Guardianship or Conservatorship is Necessary
It may be very difficult to decide if a guardianship or conservatorship is needed. Here are some things to consider.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: What Are They and What's New?
People often worry about being revived when they are terminally ill and dying. Being revived can be painful and unwanted. If you are or become terminally ill, you should know about ?Do-Not-Resuscitate? or ?DNR? Orders.
"Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions" Form
A form you can print out and use to prepare your own Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions or "Medical Power of Attorney."
Guardianship and Conservatorship in Iowa
Guardianship and conservatorship of adults are two options for substitute decision-making.
Guardianship Decisions Requiring Court Approval
Before taking certain actions, a guardian must get prior approval of the court.
Guardianship of an Adult Person: Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities
The court gives the guardian certain powers. Because of these powers, the guardian has duties to the protected person.
Guardians Making Decisions to Limit Medical Procedures
There may come a time when a guardian will have to decide about limiting life-sustaining medical procedures for the protected person.
Guardians' Medical Treatment Decisions
The court may give a guardian the responsibility of deciding what medical treatment the protected person will receive.
How to Set Up a Guardianship or Conservatorship
Here are the basic steps to set up a guardianship or conservatorship.
"Living Will" Form
A form you can print out and use to prepare your own Declaration Relating to Use of Life-Sustaining Procedures or "Living Will."
Modification and Termination of Guardianship and Conservatorship
Why modify a guardianship or conservatorship? When does a guardianship or conservatorship end?
Picking a Guardian or Conservator
A spouse, an adult child, or parent of the protected person can be a guardian or conservator. Others may also be able to fill that role.
Protecting Elderly Iowans from Abuse
Elder abuse generally means the abuse, neglect or exploitation of people 60 years of age or older.
Rights of Protected Persons in Guardianships
A guardian or conservator is appointed to make decisions for the protected person and protect the protected person's rights.
Standards and Principles of Substitute Decision-Making
It can be very difficult to make decisions for another person. Here are some ideas that might help make some of those decisions.
Standards for Setting Up and Ending a Guardianship
In deciding whether a guardianship is needed, the court looks at a person's decision-making capacity. Here are some standards for setting up and ending a guardianship.
What is a "Durable Health Care Power of Attorney?"
A Durable Health Care Power of Attorney is a legal document. It authorizes a person to be your agent to make decisions about your health care if you are not able to make decisions for yourself.
What Is a Living Will?
A living will is a written document authorizing health care providers to withhold or withdraw life sustaining procedures in certain cases. A life-sustaining procedure is any medical procedure, treatment or intervention which utilizes mechanical or artificial means to sustain, restore, or supplant a spontaneous vital function, and which serves only to prolong the dying process.
What is Guardianship and Conservatorship?
Guardianships and conservatorships are court cases that make a person or other entity (called the guardian or conservator) a decision-maker for another person (called the protected person).
What Parents Need to Know about Becoming Their Child's Guardian or Conservator
The following are some answers to frequently asked questions parents have about guardianship or conservatorship.
Which State Can Make Decisions about Guardianships and Conservatorships?
Iowa has the power to appoint a guardian or conservator if Iowa is the "home state" of the respondent to a guardianship or conservatorship petition.