What to Do If You Are Appointed Guardian of an Older Adult in Virginia
If someone you love becomes mentally incapacitated and is incapable of making responsible decisions, the Circuit Court in the city or county where your loved one resides will appoint a substitute decision-maker for your loved one, called a "guardian" with respect to his or her health care, and a "conservator," with respect to his or her finances. Guardianship and Conservatorship is a legal relationship between a competent adult (the "guardian" or “conservator”) and a person who because of incapacity is no longer able to take care of his or her own affairs (the "ward").