Arlington County Volunteer Guardianship Program

The Arlington County Volunteer Guardianship program recruits, trains and supports court-appointed volunteer guardians and conservators for individuals who can no longer make informed decisions for themselves. The volunteers become substitute decision makers. Individuals in need of this service have been determined by the Circuit Court to be incapacitated and have no family or friends who are willing or able to be appointed guardian and or conservator.

A Volunteer Guardian is a court-appointed individual authorized to make personal and healthcare related decisions. A Volunteer Conservator is also court-appointed and is responsible for managing the financial and property matters of the incapacitated individual.

Ongoing training and technical assistance are provided to the volunteers. Volunteers in this program must make difficult decisions for their clients.