# Legal & Financial Planning — Guardianship vs Conservatorship vs POA

- **At age 18, parents lose automatic legal authority.** Plan before this milestone. — *[Assured Trust, Sep 2025](/sessions/20250921_Assured_Trust_Legal_Tools/notes.md)*

- **Guardianship:** Court controls the person's physical decisions. Court CAN appoint you guardian, but retains power at your death. — *[Assured Trust, Sep 2025](/sessions/20250921_Assured_Trust_Legal_Tools/notes.md)*

- **Conservatorship:** Only applies to money decisions, not physical health. — *[Assured Trust, Sep 2025](/sessions/20250921_Assured_Trust_Legal_Tools/notes.md)*

- **Power of Attorney:** Gives doctor permission to speak to you about child's health. BUT if child disagrees, doctor follows child's wishes. — *[Assured Trust, Sep 2025](/sessions/20250921_Assured_Trust_Legal_Tools/notes.md)*

- [Stephanie's testimonial on Guardianship](https://ksautismmom.com/guardianship-he-didnt-need-it/) — *[Stephanie Coleman, Sep 2024](/sessions/20240915_Stephanie_Coleman_KU_LEND/notes.md)*

- **BEFORE considering guardianship, CONSULT AN EXPERT** — *[Stephanie Coleman, Sep 2024](/sessions/20240915_Stephanie_Coleman_KU_LEND/notes.md)*
    - When you get guardianship, your child technically becomes a ward of the state and you are appointed guardian — *[Stephanie Coleman, Sep 2024](/sessions/20240915_Stephanie_Coleman_KU_LEND/notes.md)*
    - When you pass away, a Judge can decide to award guardianship to whomever they want — your will is not binding

- **For IEPs at 18+:** You don't need guardianship — just have your child sign a release — *[Stephanie Coleman, Sep 2024](/sessions/20240915_Stephanie_Coleman_KU_LEND/notes.md)*

- A medical power of attorney covers health decisions — *[Stephanie Coleman, Sep 2024](/sessions/20240915_Stephanie_Coleman_KU_LEND/notes.md)*

- **It is extremely difficult to remove "guardianship" status once assigned** — *[Stephanie Coleman, Sep 2024](/sessions/20240915_Stephanie_Coleman_KU_LEND/notes.md)*

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