RCFS

"Improving Lives — Protecting Futures"
rcfs logo
Menu

Guardianships

A guardianship is a legal arrangement that’s made by a court to help manage the affairs of someone who can’t take care of themselves, like a child or an adult who’s incapacitated. A guardian can be appointed on a temporary or permanent basis, and they can be in charge of the person’s health, finances, or both.
gavel

About Legal Guardianships

Professionals, such as River Communities Fiduciary Services (RCFS), can help when there’s no family, when the family can’t help, when there are disagreements, or when abuse, exploitation, or neglect has occurred. But if there are family members who can help, RCFS will work with them to keep everyone involved.
Guardianship is a serious decision that should only be considered if other options won’t work. It can be complicated and expensive, so it’s important to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in guardianships before starting the process. They’ll be able to guide you through the entire process.
It’s important to note that, if a minor needs a guardian, this doesn’t mean that the child’s parents lose their legal rights. Guardians are usually appointed to manage the child’s finances, and the laws about guardianships vary from state to state.
legal guardianship
In Pennsylvania, legal guardianships can be established for both minors and adults who are incapacitated. There are different types of guardianships, including emergency, temporary, limited, plenary, and standby guardianships. Guardians can be appointed to handle financial affairs, health decisions, or both. The court will consider the individual’s needs and circumstances when determining the appropriate type of guardianship to establish.

As a non-profit corporate fiduciary, once appointed to be the guardian of an individual who has been determined by a court to be incapacitated, River Communities Fiduciary Services, Inc. (RCFS) is then responsible to make certain decisions on behalf of that individual. Our primary goal is to ensure that individuals under our guardianship are treated as valued members of the community and are served in the least restrictive and least institutional setting possible. Many of our clients can live independent lives in the community with supervision. We prefer to provide support to clients in their own homes; when this is not possible, we have considerable experience in developing non-institutional residential settings. For clients in nursing homes we make regular visits to ensure that appropriate care is provided and advocate for less restrictive alternatives if and when possible.

Read more about Guardianship laws in Pennsylvania.

Guardianships

Schedule A Consultation

Our team has extensive experience in trust administration. Contact us for a free consultation.
Guardianships
Accessibility by WAH
Scroll to Top