Pro Bono Attorney Helps Sailor Obtain Guardianship Over Adult Son

A Navy servicemember is a mother of a disabled adult son, and she learned that she needed to be appointed as his guardian so she could continue to make medical, financial, and other decisions for him. Her immediate concern was obtaining the authority to move her son to a residential care facility near relatives in another state, while she would be away for military duties.

She visited a military legal assistance office, which referred her to the ABA Military Pro Bono Project. The program connected the servicemember with an attorney who offered to provide pro bono representation. After helping with the necessary legal actions for this uncontested case—such as filing for guardianship and providing representation at hearings—the servicemember was awarded guardianship. The servicemember was then able to help her son move into a home where he would have regular visits from his supportive family.

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