Can I pay bills and manage other financial matters as a Guardian?

Yes under certain circumstances.  If you are appointed Full Guardian of an individual who has assets under $5,000, you also have automatic authority over that person's finances to pay bills and other financial matters.  If you are appointed a Limited Guardian of an individual, you will need to ask the Court to include authority over finances on the Order and Letters of Authority.  However, if the person over whom you have Guardianship has a house or other real property, or if he or she has more than $5,000 in assets, you need to file a separate Petition for Conservatorship in order to have authority over the financial assets of the person.