When Someone You Love Can No Longer Decide
A parent's memory starts slipping. An adult child with a disability turns eighteen and suddenly nobody can talk to the doctor. A spouse has a stroke and the bank won't release a dime. These are the moments families call us about — not because they want to go to court, but because they need someone to be able to act.
Kanu & Associates, P.C. handles estate planning and family law matters throughout Arizona and New Mexico, and questions about guardianship and conservatorship sit right where those two areas meet. We'll take the time to understand what's actually happening in your family, explain the options in plain language, and tell you honestly what we can help with and what the realistic path forward looks like.
Guardianship and Conservatorship: The Short Version
People use the two words interchangeably, but they do different jobs. Understanding the difference is usually the first thing that helps a worried family breathe again.
- Guardianship generally concerns the person — where they live, their medical care, their day-to-day welfare.
- Conservatorship generally concerns the money and property — bank accounts, income, bills, real estate.
- Both are sometimes needed for the same individual, and sometimes the same family member serves in both roles.
- Neither may be necessary if the right documents were signed while the person still had capacity.
That last point matters more than most people expect. A court appointment is a serious step that takes away rights from the person it's meant to protect, and judges don't grant it lightly. Before you file anything, it's worth sitting down with an attorney to find out whether there's a less restrictive route that gets your family what it needs.
How Planning Ahead Can Keep You Out of Court
Most of our work in this area is preventive. We help clients prepare practical estate planning documents designed for their family, property, health care, and legacy goals — and a well-drafted set of those documents is often what stops a guardianship petition from ever being necessary.
- Durable powers of attorney so a trusted person can handle finances without a court order
- Health care directives naming who speaks to doctors and what treatment you do or don't want
- Trusts structured so assets can be managed if you become unable to manage them yourself
- Planning conversations for parents of children with disabilities approaching adulthood
- Coordinated documents for families with property or ties in both Arizona and New Mexico
If you're a parent whose child turns eighteen soon, or you're watching a parent's health change, now is the window. The documents are far simpler and far less expensive than a court proceeding, and they let your family member choose their own decision-maker instead of a judge choosing one.
"What sets Dr. Kanu apart is his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to his clients' success."
Talk It Through With Our Office
Solomon Kanu brings more than two decades of legal experience to the firm. He earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1999 and was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Arizona in 2001, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona in 2001, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2002. He is also a member of the State Bar of New Mexico. The firm holds a 4.3 out of 5 rating from 152 client reviews.
Call (602) 324-5320 or email solomon@kanulaw.com to describe your situation. We're at 15150 W Pk Pl Ste 215-2064, Goodyear, AZ 85395, open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm. Tell us what's going on, and we'll tell you where to start.