Guardianship may be the only option when a person is at significant risk of financial or personal harm to themselves or others, and there are no adequate alternatives to guardianship. Alternatives to guardianship may include such options as having a Representative Payee, Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care and/or Finances, or having assets in a trust managed by a trustee. Petitioning for guardianship is a serious decision, and an experienced attorney can help families explore whether there are any alternatives to protect the vulnerable person can be put in place, short of guardianship.