If you don’t feel he/she is able to carry that responsibility, you will need to contact your county Surrogate’s court in order to apply for guardianship. 

The Commission for Quality Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities provides a fact sheet at this on-line site:  and the forms for filing for guardianship here. Additionally, you may call them with questions at (518) 388-2892 and ask to speak to the Director of the Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) program. 

If you have questions about guardianship or would like assistance in completing the paperwork to file for guardianship please contact Scott Iovinella, Transition Specialist, at 518-640-3398 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Diane Woodward, Coordinator of Transition, at 518-640-3366 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . In some cases it may be necessary to contact a lawyer.

• Health Care Proxy Form - The New York Health Care Proxy Law allows you to appoint someone you trust — for example, a family member or close friend – to make health care decisions for you if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself. By appointing a health care agent, you can make sure that health care providers follow your wishes.