Journal
Insights for families and care partners
Clear, practical writing about guardianship, representative payee services, benefits, and long-term planning in Wisconsin.
What Corporate Guardianship Actually Means
A court appoints us to stand in for decisions a person can no longer safely make. Here is what that authority covers, what it does not, and how we exercise it.
Representative Payee vs. Power of Attorney: What's the Difference?
These three roles are often used interchangeably. They carry different authority, different oversight, and different people in charge.
How to Submit a Referral for Guardianship or Payee Services
A referral is a conversation starter, not a commitment. Here is what helps us respond quickly and what happens after you send it.
What the Social Security Administration Looks for in a Representative Payee
SSA reviews every payee application. Understanding the criteria makes the process faster and the appointment stronger.
Supporting a Sibling With a Disability: Where to Start
When a parent ages or becomes ill, responsibility often shifts to a sibling without warning. Starting early makes that transition far gentler.
Understanding Annual Accountings in Guardianship
Every guardianship of the estate carries a reporting obligation. What goes in the annual account, and where errors usually happen.
How Representative Payee Funds Are Tracked and Reported
Benefit money looks like any other money in a bank account, but it carries rules. How we keep it separate, documented, and accountable.
When a Parent Can No Longer Care: Planning Ahead
The families who plan are the ones who keep continuity when the unexpected happens. A practical starting point for parents and adult children.
Rights of People Under Guardianship
Guardianship is a limited legal tool, not a change in who a person is. What remains, what can be limited, and how to raise a concern.
Guardian, Payee, or Both? Choosing the Right Support
Two appointments, two different jobs. Families sometimes arrive asking for one and discover they need the other, or both.