Is Guardianship Required for a Handicapped Person

[4thDaughter]

My question involves guardianship in the State of Pennsylvania. An elderly woman has cared for her handicapped daughter for over 50 years (since the daughter's birth). No legal guardianship was ever established. In the event of the death of the now elderly mother, will the remaining family members (i.e., siblings of the handicapped daughter) have any rights to continue caring for and managing the affairs of their handicapped sibling? Is it necessary for the elderly mother to procure legal guardianship to ensure care of the handicapped daughter remains within the family?

[Mr. Knowitall]

We're talking what, here? Developmental disabilities that leave her unable to attend to her personal needs, her finances, or both? If so then, yes, you (or the person who will be attending to those needs) need to be considering a guardianship.

[4thDaughter]

Both mental and physical disabilities.... We have been trying to convince our mother for some years that she needed to establish legal guardianship of our handicapped sister. Thank you for your quick response!