What Is a Court Evaluator in a The Bronx Guardianship Case?
In a Bronx adult guardianship case, a court evaluator is a neutral, court-appointed investigator whose job is to gather the facts the judge needs to decide whether a guardian is truly necessary and, if so, how much authority that guardian should have. When a family files a guardianship petition under Article 81 of the New […]
How to Become Guardian of an Aging Parent in The Bronx
To become the guardian of an aging parent in The Bronx, you file a guardianship proceeding under New York Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81 in the Supreme Court, Bronx County — not the Surrogate’s Court. You commence the case with an Order to Show Cause and a Verified Petition, the court appoints a neutral […]
How Much Does an Article 81 Guardianship Cost in The Bronx? (2026)
The honest answer most Bronx families want is a single number — and the honest answer most lawyers can give is “it depends.” An uncontested Article 81 guardianship in The Bronx is typically driven by several stacked costs: your attorney’s fee to prepare and prosecute the petition, the court evaluator’s fee (and, frequently, separate counsel […]
Guardianship of a Disabled Adult Child in The Bronx (SCPA 17-A)
If you are a Bronx parent of a child with an intellectual or developmental disability who is approaching or has reached age 18, you obtain legal authority to keep making decisions for that adult child by petitioning for SCPA Article 17-A guardianship in the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court. On a child’s 18th birthday, the law […]
Article 81 Guardianship vs. Power of Attorney in The Bronx
If a loved one in The Bronx can no longer manage their finances or personal needs, the most important question is whether your family needs a power of attorney or a court-ordered Article 81 guardianship. The short answer: a power of attorney is a planning document that only works if the person still has the […]
How Long Does an Article 81 Guardianship Take in Bronx County?
An uncontested Article 81 guardianship in Bronx County typically takes about three to four months from the day the petition is filed in the Supreme Court, Bronx County, to the day the guardian receives a signed order and commission. Straightforward matters sometimes resolve in as little as six to eight weeks, while contested cases — […]
Guardianship of a Minor in The Bronx (SCPA Article 17)
Guardianship of a minor in The Bronx is a legal proceeding, brought under Article 17 of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure Act (SCPA), in which a court appoints a responsible adult to make personal and/or financial decisions for a child under the age of 18. In Bronx County, these petitions are most commonly filed in the […]
Guardian of the Person vs. Property in The Bronx: What’s the Difference?
When a loved one in The Bronx can no longer manage their own affairs, a New York court can appoint a guardian — and the central question families ask is what, exactly, that guardian will be allowed to do. The short answer: a guardian of the person handles personal and medical needs (where someone lives, […]
Contesting a Guardianship in The Bronx: Rights of the AIP
Yes — you can contest a guardianship in The Bronx, and the law gives the alleged incapacitated person (AIP) powerful rights to do so. When someone petitions the Supreme Court, Bronx County to appoint a guardian over an adult under Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL), the AIP is not a bystander. He […]
The Article 81 Guardianship Process in The Bronx (2026 Guide)
In The Bronx, an Article 81 guardianship for an incapacitated adult is filed and decided in the Supreme Court, Bronx County — not the Surrogate’s Court. The process begins with a petition under New York’s Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) Article 81, asking the court to appoint a guardian over the personal needs and/or the property […]