Houston Contested Guardianship Attorney Serving Clients Throughout Harris County, Texas
Most of the time, guardianships are established and maintained without much conflict. Family members will agree that a child is disabled or that a parent or other relative is unable to make their own decisions and thus is in need of a guardian to ensure that their health and finances are appropriately protected. The uncontested guardianship process is already difficult, complex, and emotionally draining, even if there are no conflicts among family members.
Unfortunately, it is not always the case that everyone agrees that guardianship is appropriate, or about whom should be appointed as guardian. If someone in the family objects to the need for a guardian or the appointed guardian, or if the intended ward objects to the appointment, it is important to retain experienced and compassionate legal help to evaluate the claims and help you secure the outcome that is in the best interests of your loved one. The Houston contested guardianship attorney at the Leigh B. Meineke Law Firm has decades of experience handling guardianship matters and will work to ensure that your loved one receives the care and protection they deserve.
Contesting a guardianship
Sometimes a sibling or spouse of a ward, or the ward personally, will contest the need for a guardian. They may not believe that the ward lacks the capacity to make their own decisions, or they may contest the choice for the appointed guardian. Where significant finances are on the line, different family members may have different views about how the estate should be managed, leading to disputes over to whom the responsibility should fall.
Alternatively, someone in the family may decide that the appointed guardian is in fact taking advantage of the ward’s lack of mental capacity and abusing their position of power, making decisions that help out the guardian rather than the ward. Or they may simply believe the guardian is not acting in the general best interests of the ward and certain of their decisions should be fixed, or they should be replaced as guardian entirely.
The Leigh B. Meineke Law Firm is equipped to handle lawsuits over whether a guardianship is proper based on the mental capacity of the ward, whether there has been elder abuse or other inappropriate influence exercised over a ward, and whether the guardian is exercising their responsibilities appropriately. We will help you look out for the best interest of your loved one no matter on which side of the dispute you fall.
Your Attorneys Can Help With a Contested Guardianship
Determining that a family member lacks mental capacity and requires the care of a guardian is distressing enough on its own. It can be an emotionally draining experience, and wading through the legal hoops on top of the family politics at stake is difficult in the best of circumstances. When the guardianship is contested and a lawsuit may be necessary, the stakes are even higher. With over 20 years of experience, Texas guardianship attorney Leigh Meineke can help you through the process and help to ensure the best outcome for your loved one, whether that means appointing a guardian, changing the guardian, or taking power away from an appointed guardian who is not appropriately exercising their responsibilities as the guardian of your loved one. Call the Leigh B. Meineke Law Firmm in Houston at 832-706-0244 to get in touch with a skilled, compassionate and experienced Texas guardianship lawyer.
