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NC Medicaid Behavioral Health and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Tailored Plans will launch July 1, 2024. Choice period ends on May 15, 2024. Please call to select your PCP. Find PCPs available in our health plan.

Effective February 1, 2024, citizens of Harnett County are being served by Alliance Health. Access more information for or for providers.

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Guardianship and Alternatives

Adult guardianship is a legal process. This page answers questions like "Who should have a guardian?" and "What is the process for guardianship?".

What is guardianship?

Adult guardianship is a legal process that exists to help protect our most vulnerable citizens. These citizens include people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions and traumatic brain injuries as well as youth in the foster care system and other vulnerable older adults.

Who should have a guardian?

Guardianship is not something to be taken lightly. While guardianship is in place to protect our most vulnerable citizens, guardianship can unfortunately also take away some of an individual’s most basic human rights. In many cases, there is an abundance of resources and solutions that may support the individual without having major intervention such as guardianship. Involving the person and educating individuals on guardianship throughout the process as much as possible is highly important. Citizens having all the information is crucial so that they can consider all the alternatives before deciding to pursue guardianship. While guardianship can be restored, the process is lengthy and often very difficult. Access more information on alternatives to guardianship and restoration resources for individuals and families.

Decided guardianship is the best option? Where do you even start?

Families and loved ones often find themselves at a loss on where to start the process once they have made the decision to proceed with Guardianship. Do you need a lawyer? Do you have to go to court? The list of questions goes on and on. Guardianship is a legal process, and every case is carefully examined. A decision is then made by the Clerk of Court in the North Carolina County of residence. The Johnston County Consumer and Family Advisory Committee for Alliance Health partnered with Michelle Ball, Johnston County Clerk of Court to create a short video giving a brief overview of guardianship and some of the processes which may be involved.

This page was last reviewed for accuracy on 04/14/2022