What Is a Court Evaluator in a Manhattan Guardianship Case?
In a Manhattan adult guardianship case, a court evaluator is the neutral, court-appointed investigator who serves as the eyes and ears of the judge. When a petition is filed in the Supreme Court, New York County under Article 81 of the New York Mental Hygiene Law (MHL), the court appoints this independent person to meet […]
How to Become Guardian of an Aging Parent in Manhattan
To become guardian of an aging parent in Manhattan, you must file a petition for adult guardianship under New York Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81 in the Supreme Court, New York County — not the Surrogate’s Court. You commence the case with an Order to Show Cause and a Verified Petition, the court appoints […]
How Much Does an Article 81 Guardianship Cost in Manhattan? (2026)
The honest answer is that an Article 81 guardianship in Manhattan typically costs several thousand to many thousands of dollars when you add up attorney fees, the court-appointed court evaluator, and ongoing administration — but the precise total depends almost entirely on whether the case is uncontested or contested, how complex the alleged incapacitated person’s […]
Guardianship of a Disabled Adult Child in Manhattan (SCPA 17-A)
In Manhattan, the right way to obtain guardianship of a disabled adult child is most often through SCPA Article 17-A, a special guardianship designed for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability. This proceeding is filed in the New York County Surrogate’s Court — not the Supreme Court — and it allows a parent or […]
Article 81 Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney in Manhattan
If your Manhattan loved one can no longer manage their finances or personal needs, you face a clear choice: an Article 81 guardianship, decided in the Supreme Court of New York County, or a durable power of attorney signed voluntarily under the General Obligations Law. The short answer is this — a power of attorney […]
How Long Does an Article 81 Guardianship Take in New York County?
In New York County (Manhattan), an uncontested Article 81 guardianship typically takes roughly two to four months from the day the petition is filed in the Supreme Court to the day the court signs the order and commission appointing a guardian. Straightforward cases that involve a clearly incapacitated person, cooperative family members, and a fully […]
Guardianship of a Minor in Manhattan (SCPA Article 17)
Guardianship of a minor in Manhattan is the legal process by which the New York County Surrogate’s Court appoints an adult to make decisions for, and manage the property of, a child under the age of 18 under SCPA Article 17. When a child’s parents have died, are unavailable, or cannot manage money or assets […]
Guardian of the Person vs. Property in Manhattan: What’s the Difference?
In Manhattan, the difference comes down to what the guardian is empowered to decide: a guardian of the person makes decisions about an incapacitated individual’s personal and medical needs — where they live, their health care, their daily care and safety — while a guardian of the property manages that individual’s financial affairs, including bank […]
Contesting a Guardianship in Manhattan: Rights of the AIP
If a guardianship petition has been filed against you or a family member in Manhattan, you can contest it — and you have powerful legal rights to do so. In an adult incapacity proceeding under Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81, the person the petition is brought against is called the alleged incapacitated person (AIP). […]
The Article 81 Guardianship Process in Manhattan (2026 Guide)
An Article 81 guardianship in Manhattan is a court proceeding under New York’s Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81, filed in the Supreme Court, New York County, in which a judge decides whether an adult who can no longer manage personal needs or financial affairs requires a guardian — and, if so, appoints one with […]