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Information on Guardianship
At 18, all individuals, including those with developmental disabilities, reach the legal age of majority. This means that parents can no longer make decisions legally on behalf of their children, regardless of the nature of their disability and regardless of whether or not they still live with their family.
Some families may want to consider guardianship as an option for their family member. A guardian is defined as “a person or agency appointed by a court to act on behalf of an individual”.
Establishing guardianship is a legal process, and many families turn to the Bureau of Guardianship Services at the Department of Human Services for help with the process. Guardianship, however, can be established without the Bureau’s involvement.