Housing Insecurity Prevention Assistance Programs Open
January 31, 202517-A Guardianships in New York
In New York State, when a person turns 18 years old, they are assumed to be
legally able to make decisions for themselves. This means that no other
person is allowed to make personal, medical, or financial decisions for them.
This may present a problem if the person is intellectually or developmentally
disabled and has difficulty making decisions for themselves.
If you are concerned about the well-being of an intellectually or developmentally disabled
person who is 18 or over (or about to turn 18), you may want to consider asking the court to
appoint an Article 17-A guardian. An Article 17-A guardian is someone who is appointed by a
Surrogate Court judge to help protect the interests of an intellectually or developmentally
disabled adult and make decisions for them, when they are unable to do so for themselves.
