Guardianship Advocacy Program

Guardianship is the legal power to care for another person and manage his/her affairs, when s/he is unable to do so for themselves. Since guardianship is a legal, not a medical, determination,a court appoints guardianship based upon a person's ability to handle personal decisions, money, property and similar matters. Being disabled is NOT, in and of itself, grounds for guardianship. There are two types of guardianships in New York State. The first is Article 17-A of the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act, a basic form of guardianship provided for an individual after a diagnosis of mental retardation or developmental disability and incapacity is certified by two physicians or one physician and one psychologist. The second type is Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law of the State Supreme Court, which reflects more recent thought on the abilities and rights of persons with disabilities, and is a specifically defined form of guardianship, designed and tailored to the needs of the ward.

As an alternative to a guardianship succession of family members or friends, the guardianship statute contains a provision which permits not-for-profit corporations having corporate authority in their charters to act as Guardian of the person only. The corporation assigns professional staff or volunteers to carry out guardianship responsibilities for the individual. Putnam ARC provides Corporate Guardianship services through NYSARC, Inc.

The PARC Guardianship services include:
  1. Provide guidance and assistance with the guardianship process for program participants and their families.
  2. Provide information and assistance with the guardianship process within the community we service.
  3. Provide referral information and assistance with legal representation for estate planning.
  4. Assume the advocacy role for families experiencing difficulty with the guardianship process.
  5. Serve on the Southeast Region Guardianship Committee for Peer Review and Best Practice identification.
Additional PARC Future Planning services include:

  1. Providing Health Care proxy information for families.
  2. Conducting up to three annual seminars regarding the legal and financial options and benefits involved in future planning.


Guardianship Forms


For more information or to be added to our educational mailing and information list contact:
Katherine O'Donnell
Service Coordinator
Guardianship Coordinator

Phone #845-278-7272, ext. 263
Katherine_ODonnell@putnamarc.org