What Is a Court Evaluator in a Long Island Guardianship Case?
A court evaluator is a neutral, independent investigator that the Supreme Court appoints in a Long Island adult guardianship proceeding to gather facts, interview the people involved, and report back to the judge on whether guardianship is appropriate and, if so, what powers the guardian should have. In an Article 81 case under New York’s […]
How to Become Guardian of an Aging Parent in Long Island
To become guardian of an aging parent in Long Island, you file a petition for adult guardianship under New York Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81 in the Supreme Court of the county where your parent resides — in Suffolk County, that is the Supreme Court, Suffolk County (and Nassau residents file in Supreme Court, […]
How Much Does an Article 81 Guardianship Cost in Long Island? (2026)
The honest answer is that an Article 81 guardianship in Long Island does not carry one fixed price — the total cost is built from several stacked components: attorney’s fees for preparing and prosecuting the petition, a court-appointed Court Evaluator’s fee, fees for any counsel appointed for the alleged incapacitated person (AIP), the cost of […]
Guardianship of a Disabled Adult Child in Long Island (SCPA 17-A)
If your son or daughter has a developmental or intellectual disability and is approaching (or has already reached) age 18, you can petition for guardianship of that disabled adult child in Long Island under SCPA Article 17-A, filed in the Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court. When your child turns 18, the law presumes they are a […]
Article 81 Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney in Long Island
For most Long Island families, a properly executed durable power of attorney is the better tool than an Article 81 guardianship — because it is private, far less expensive, and avoids court entirely. But that advantage exists only if your loved one signs the document while they still have the mental capacity to understand it. […]
How Long Does an Article 81 Guardianship Take in Suffolk County?
Most uncontested Article 81 guardianship proceedings in Suffolk County are resolved in roughly two to four months from the day the petition is filed in the Supreme Court to the day the order appointing a guardian is signed. That said, the honest answer is “it depends.” An emergency application can move in days, while a […]
Guardianship of a Minor in Long Island (SCPA Article 17)
Guardianship of a minor on Long Island is a Surrogate’s Court proceeding under Article 17 of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA Art. 17) that authorizes a responsible adult to make personal and financial decisions for a child under 18 who has no parent able to act, or who has inherited or been awarded money […]
Guardian of the Person vs. Property in Long Island: What’s the Difference?
When a Long Island family asks a court to appoint a guardian for a loved one, the judge is not handing over a single, all-purpose power. New York law splits guardianship into two distinct roles: a guardian of the person, who is responsible for personal and medical needs, and a guardian of the property, who […]
Contesting a Guardianship in Long Island: Rights of the AIP
Yes — a guardianship can be contested in Long Island, and the alleged incapacitated person (AIP) holds substantial, statutorily protected rights to fight it. Under New York’s Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81, an adult guardianship petition is filed in the Supreme Court of the county where the person resides — for Long Island residents, […]
The Article 81 Guardianship Process in Long Island (2026 Guide)
On Long Island, the Article 81 guardianship process is a Supreme Court proceeding — typically filed in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County — in which a judge decides whether an adult has lost the capacity to manage their personal needs or property, and if so, appoints a guardian with tailored, limited powers to step in. […]