There are instances in which mental illness may surface at the most inopportune times. This can happen because your loved one stops taking their medication and is unwilling to restart it. An individual’s condition may have also deteriorated to the point that the medication no longer works as effectively as it once did. If your loved one’s mental health has become unmanageable and you’re afraid that their condition may adversely affect their ability to make sound financial and care decisions, then you may want to consider setting up a conservatorship.
It’s possible for the relatives of those individuals who have been diagnosed with long-term mental health impairments such as schizoaffective, obsessive-compulsive and bipolar disorders to request a conservatorship. Relatives of individuals with clinical depression or other mental health disorders may also need to take legal action to protect their loved ones’ interests.
There are many different types of decisions that the conservator may be allowed to make on a relative’s behalf. That individual may be able to decide whether their loved one should be placed in an inpatient mental health facility as well as where they should live if they’re not sent to reside in one. The conservator can also consent to care with a specific provider and the administration of certain psychotropic medications on their loved one’s behalf.
One of the first steps to setting up a conservatorship over a loved one is to have them complete a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. If they’re unwilling to do that, you may be able to have them involuntarily submit to one.
Establishing yourself as a conservator over a loved one isn’t automatic after they receive a serious mental health diagnosis. You will be required to petition a Miami judge to appoint you to such a role. You may only be named as a Florida conservator after providing the court with ample information as to why you must step in and take action on your loved one’s behalf. An attorney with experience seeking guardianships & conservatorships can help you justify why this is necessary.
