It's not unusual for a family to feel overwhelmed when an aging parent or grandparent is no longer able to manage completely on their own and needs the assistance of others. With our busy lives, most families have done little if anything to plan for such an occurrence and the initial response is typically more reactive than deliberative. When an aging family member is experiencing diminished mental capacity and can no longer make decisions for themselves, this can spawn familial conflict over what to do, how best to care for the person, where the person should live and who should make the decisions. Many times, these conflicts will lead to the filing of a guardianship case where the principle focus will be on whether and who should be guardian, not how best to accommodate the person in need. As a viable alternative to guardianship litigation, mediation with a neutral third party affords the entire family the opportunity to refocus their attention on the question of "need" in arriving at a comprehensive plan of care. In addition, guardianship mediation is a dignified approach to maximizing a person's right of self-determination and autonomy and ensuring that all parties, including the person in need, are heard and have a voice.

The attorneys at SerraWeiss have a great deal of experience in guardianship cases, both in the private and public sectors, and take a compassionate approach in working in this area. We are therefore very equipped to mediate these emotional and difficult conflicts.

Call us at 609.924.4818 or contact us online today for a consultation to discuss your mediation options.