Adult Guardianship Attorney Serving South Florida
Watching a parent or spouse decline, whether from dementia, a stroke, or another condition that affects their judgment, brings a particular kind of stress. You want to protect them, but you also do not want to strip away more independence than they actually need, and you are often trying to make that call while other family members have their own opinions about what should happen next.
Barash-Schatten Law Firm, P.A. helps South Florida families navigate adult guardianship with both urgency and care, and attorney Pamela Schatten works directly with the family from the first conversation through the final court filing.
Why the Right Attorney Makes the Difference
Waiting too long to act on a parent’s declining capacity can leave them exposed to financial exploitation or unsafe living conditions, while moving forward without solid medical evidence can turn a straightforward petition into a drawn out contested case, especially if another family member disagrees. The examining committee process that determines incapacity is exacting, and a petition that is not prepared carefully can be delayed or dismissed, leaving a vulnerable adult without protection for months longer than necessary.
An attorney who has handled these cases before knows how to move quickly when speed matters and how to build the record a contested case requires.
How We Help With Adult Guardianship
We start by evaluating whether a power of attorney, a health care surrogate designation, or another less restrictive option can meet your family’s needs, since Florida law requires courts to consider these alternatives first. When guardianship is genuinely necessary, we prepare the petition, work with the examining committee process, and represent you at the incapacity hearing.
When a family member disputes the need for guardianship, or disputes who should serve as guardian, we advocate for the outcome that actually protects your loved one. We also coordinate directly with physicians, care facilities, and financial institutions when a guardianship requires moving quickly, such as arranging appropriate care or securing assets from an ongoing risk.
Why Clients Choose Pamela Schatten
Ms. Schatten helped one family secure appropriate memory care placement for a relative facing severe dementia, moving the case forward at the pace the situation actually required. In another matter, she advocated through a contested guardianship dispute within a family that disagreed sharply about what their relative needed, and in a third, she coordinated a home sale and purchase during an active guardianship that increased the ward’s property value by $150,000. These are not routine filings. They are the kind of results that come from an attorney who understands both the legal process and the practical realities families face while it plays out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Watching a parent or spouse lose capacity can bring uncertainty, and families may have questions. Here are some examples.
What Working With Our Firm Looks Like
You will work directly with Ms. Schatten throughout your case, not a rotating team of associates, and our office typically responds to calls and emails within a couple of hours rather than days. When a family member’s safety or finances are at risk, that responsiveness is not a convenience. It is often the difference that matters most.
We also stay involved after the guardianship is granted, helping you understand the inventory and annual accounting the court expects, so you are not caught off guard by an obligation you did not know you had taken on.
If you are concerned about a parent or spouse who can no longer manage safely on their own, call Barash-Schatten Law Firm, P.A. at (954) 698-4644 to schedule a consultation at our Hollywood office. You can also reach us through the contact form on our website, and we will talk through your options honestly before you decide anything.
Contact the Firm
Start the conversation.
Tell us briefly what you need and how to reach you. Messages go directly to Pamela Schatten, and you will hear back within a couple of hours at most during the business day.
Office
Barash-Schatten Law
800 E Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Telephone
Toll free
Areas served
Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Lauderdale by the Sea, Hollywood Beach and Pompano Beach, plus the rest of Broward and Miami-Dade County
Office location, Fort Lauderdale
Please do not include confidential details in this first message. We will arrange a private call.