Guardianship
Make a Guardianship Referral
Monthly Status Report | Become a Guardianship Volunteer Advocate
This program provides legal guardianship to clients 60 years of age or older who are unable to make medical and financial decisions on their own behalf. Guardianship is a legal process administrated through the Probate Court. Once the Judge determines that a person is incapacitated; the court determines who is best qualified to serve as a guardian. If the person has no one able or suitable to serve in this capacity, then REAL Services, Inc. is available to become legal guardian. This role involves managing financial, medical and personal matters. The program also utilizes volunteers who serve as Guardian Volunteer Advocates (GVA) for individual clients. The GVA visits, monitors and advocates for their client.
The Guardianship Program has served as the court appointed legal guardian for over 195 individuals since the establishment of the program in 1994. The majority of the clients served reside in long-term care facilities; however the guardianship program makes every effort to allow clients to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. This program also refers endangered adults to other service providers when guardianship services are not appropriate.
Please feel free to contact us at 574-284-2644 or 800-552-7928 (in Indiana only), ext. 136 or email us at: phuffer@realservicesinc.com
Any interested adult can make a referral to the Guardianship Program. A complete referral must include both a referral form and a physician’s report. Links to these forms are included below. Please note that the physician’s statement must include a dementia diagnosis or other diagnosis which results in the individual being mentally incapacitated. These documents may be faxed to (574) 284-2693 or may be mailed to the address below.
St. Joseph and Marshall County Guardianship Referral Form
Marshall County Physician's Report Form | St. Joseph County Physician's Report Form
Please Mail to:
REAL Services
Attn: Guardianship Program
P.O. Box 1835
South Bend, IN 46634