Gonzales Tutorship Lawyer

Tutorship Attorney in Gonzales, LA

Many students in Gonzales benefit from schools like Bullion Primary School and East Ascension High School. However, some students need more attention than others due to a disability. While parents can make certain decisions, they might be limited in how they can help their special needs children. A Gonzales tutorship lawyer can help.

Experienced Tutorship Attorneys in Gonzales, LA

Any type of legal situation involving children can be difficult. That’s why at Christopher J. Bridges, Attorney at Law, we work tirelessly to defend the rights of children and families. We take extra time to listen to the specific needs of each case so we can meet the needs of everyone involved.

What Is Tutorship?

Tutorship is a term that is unique to Louisiana. You might have heard it referred to as guardianship in other states. Tutorship is generally for children who are 15 to 17 years old.

This process protects disabled children by giving their caretakers greater influence over important decisions. It can also extend past adolescence and into adulthood. This is helpful for people who are unable to make their own decisions or be fully independent.

There are several legal requirements to establish a tutorship. First, the child has to be between 15 and 18 years old. People older than 18 go through a different process called interdiction.

Additionally, your child needs an IQ test. If it is determined to be less than two-thirds of the standard IQ of a person of the same age, they qualify for tutorship.

If you successfully gain tutorship of your child, you will be responsible for making important decisions for them for the foreseeable future.

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Tutorship vs. Interdiction

Tutorship and interdiction are similar, but they are different processes for different age groups. Tutorship is meant to protect disabled minor children before they become adults. This process is often easier because tutorship can be extended into adulthood.

With interdiction, the disabled person is over 18 and considered a legal adult. This adds complications to the process and might make it more difficult for parents to protect their children.

Tutorship can be a great tool to reduce the amount of effort required for parents to take care of their children sooner, without having to go through the interdiction process.

Who Takes Care of the Child?

The person who is legally responsible for a child in a tutorship is called a tutor. There is also a second person appointed called the under-tutor. Unlike the name suggests, this is not meant to replace the tutor. The under-tutor is meant to hold the tutor accountable and ensure they are taking care of the relevant aspects of the child’s life.

The under-tutor does not become the tutor if the tutor dies or is unable to perform the role. Therefore, it is important to think about who will be appointed as tutor and under-tutor before filing for tutorship.

Duties of the Tutor

The tutor has several important responsibilities to make sure the child is taken care of. The most important ones include:

• Taking care of the child: The tutor needs to act in the best interests of the child. Decisions need to be made in a way that benefits the child as much as possible. This includes making sure they are fed, cleaned, and educated as much as possible.
• Financial responsibilities: Even disabled children can have an estate and finances; however, a reduced capacity might mean that they are unable to manage them properly. This means the tutor must do so in a way that benefits the child.
• Addressing medical issues: In the event that a certain medical procedure needs to be performed on the child, the healthcare facility may need the tutor’s permission. This is common for procedures involving anesthesia. In these instances, the tutor is responsible for allowing the child to undergo the treatment.
• Submitting annual reports: The court requires tutors to submit a report detailing what the child owns, which may include property and financial assets. This also includes financial-related paperwork, like tax returns they file on behalf of the child.
• Keeping track of records: Since the disabled child likely cannot keep track of their own paperwork, the tutor is responsible for doing this. For example, any paperwork related to the establishment and maintenance of the tutorship should be kept. Things like medical records and school progress reports should also be kept to document the child’s health and well-being.

Of Ascension Parish residents, approximately 5.3% are aged 18-64 and disabled. These individuals might need the help of a tutor to manage their affairs.

Why Hire a Tutorship Lawyer in Gonzales, LA?

Applying for tutorship is not a simple process. There are many requirements that must be met before the court grants it.

Reports of your child’s mental capacity and intelligence are important to submit to the court. The petition itself is also an important document to get right. The wording in this document can help the court decide whether or not to grant the tutorship.

Any stage of applying for tutorship can benefit from legal involvement. When you hire a tutorship lawyer in Gonzales, LA, they can tell you which documents you need, where to get them, and how to fill them out. This can streamline the process and dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to file a petition for continuing tutorship.

Why Choose Us?

Family law cases often involve many steps and require a lot of paperwork. At Christopher J. Bridges, Attorney at Law, we communicate early and often with our clients about what steps have been completed and what is needed from them. This can prevent mistakes from being made and steps from being forgotten, and can result in fewer delays.

Plan for the Future With a Gonzales Tutorship Attorney

Establishing a tutorship early is important to ensure your child is taken care of after they reach adulthood. Only about 1.2% of children under 18 are disabled in Ascension Parish. This means that you need to act quickly to protect your child’s financial, medical, and physical needs. Schedule a consultation with Christopher J. Bridges, Attorney at Law, to learn more.