Guardianships in Texas can be full (plenary) or limited in scope. A full guardianship gives the guardian broad authority over the ward’s life – this usually happens when the ward is completely unable to make responsible decisions for themselves. In a full guardianship, the guardian will make virtually all personal, medical, and financial decisions for the ward, essentially stepping in to manage all aspects of the ward’s affairs. For example, a full guardianship over an elderly adult with advanced dementia would allow the guardian to handle everything from paying bills and managing assets to deciding where the adult will live and what medical treatment they receive.

 

By contrast, a limited guardianship grants the guardian only those powers that are necessary to assist the ward in areas where the ward is incapable of acting on their own. If an individual can make some decisions independently, the court prefers to leave those decisions in the person’s control and only intervene where needed. For instance, a developmentally disabled adult might be able to handle daily living activities but not complex financial transactions; in that case, a court might establish a limited guardianship where the guardian is only in charge of the person’s financial affairs (a limited guardian of the estate), while the ward retains the right to make personal decisions. Texas law explicitly requires that guardianships be designed to encourage the ward’s independence and be only as restrictive as necessary ​. This means the court will tailor the guardianship order to fit the ward’s specific abilities and needs. Limited guardianships can cover any aspect of personal or financial decision-making – common examples include guardianship solely of the person (no financial authority), solely of the estate (financial authority only), or specific decisions like medical consent, while leaving all other decisions to the ward.

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In any guardianship (full or limited), the guardian is legally obligated to act in the best interest of the ward at all times. The powers granted to a guardian are listed in the court’s order, and the guardian cannot exceed those powers. This safeguard ensures that a limited guardianship remains limited and that the ward maintains any rights not specifically given to the guardian. It’s also worth noting that over time, a guardianship’s scope can be changed by the court: if a ward’s condition worsens, a limited guardianship might be expanded, or if a ward’s condition improves, a full guardianship could potentially be reduced to limited or ended altogether (through a restoration of rights process).