What Powers Does a Guardian Have?

When someone is appointed as a guardian, the court is going to try to make their powers as limited as possible. In order to to preserve some independence and autonomy for the individual, the court might give more specific powers to the guardian. For example, if your loved one is in the hospital, the court may give you the power to make medical decisions for them while they are unable to do so. The court can grant certain decision making powers that could me short term or long term.

However, in some scenarios, an individual may be in need of all their decisions being made for them. Perhaps one of your loved ones has had a stroke, or is elderly and is suffering from dementia. In cases like these, the court may grant you full guardianship which gives you full power over both everyday decisions and bigger decisions such as medical care.