Upon turning age 18 all Vermonters are presumed to be competent to make their own decisions and to have a right of self-determination. A parent is no longer considered the guardian of a child once the child turns 18. Any guardianship for an adult must be authorized by a court.

There are 4 main kinds of guardianship for adults in Vermont:

• Private guardianship for mentally disabled adults
• Public guardianship for mentally disabled adults age 60 or over
• Public guardianship for adults with developmental disabilities
• Voluntary guardianship

A guardianship may be limited or full. Even with a full guardian, a Vermonter retains certain basic rights, such as the right to vote, free speech, and practice religion.

A guardian cannot place a person involuntarily into a psychiatric hospital.

Additional Information

For additional information on Public Guardianship contact:

Gail Falk, Director, Office of Public Guardian
Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
Division of Disability & Aging Services
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671-1601
Phone: (802) 241-2616
E-mail: gail.falk@dail.state.vt.us