Louisiana Guardianship Services, Inc. (LGSI) is a Louisiana nonprofit corporation whose mission is to restore dignity and peace of mind to vulnerable adults through professional guardianship and advocacy when there is nobody else.
Through guardianship, powers of attorney, trust management, personal escrow services, and low-bono legal services, LGSI serves developmentally disabled and incapacitated elders, and their families, across Louisiana. LGSI employs Nationally Certified Guardians and is the state government's sole provider of guardianship and representative payee services.
LGSI is eligible to serve as court-appointed curator/guardian for adults who lack the capacity to make their own decisions. LGSI provides these services to indigent adults through state contracts with the Louisiana Department of Health for developmentally disabled individuals and the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs for elderly individuals. LGSI is the sole provider of guardianship services for the State of Louisiana. LGSI also accepts and serves on a private-pay basis for those with means who require guardianship services. LGSI is an organizational member of the National Guardianship Association and employs the only Nationally Certified Guardians in Louisiana.
In August 2024, LGSI made a landmark move in establishing the Louisiana Guardianship Services Disability Pooled Trust, a pooled special needs trust designed to help individuals with disabilities manage their excess financial resources while maintaining eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Managed by LGSI, the trust allows individuals to pool their resources for investment purposes while still retaining individual accounts. This structure provides cost-effective management of funds, which can be used to enhance the quality of life for beneficiaries by covering expenses not covered by public benefits, such as personal care services, transportation, and recreational activities. This is the first and only pooled trust established in Louisiana.
Read More Pooled TrustLGSI serves as agent under powers of attorney for individuals who have capacity to grant a POA but need assistance managing their affairs. LGSI also serves as trustee for standalone trusts established for beneficiaries of any type. Our team of curators and attorneys have a vast understanding of care plans, trust & estate law, and public benefits to ensure affairs and Trusts are managed efficiently and within the bounds of the law.
Louisiana Guardianship Services, Inc. provides low-bono legal services, meaning we offer affordable, reduced-cost legal assistance for families in need in matters of interdiction, elder, and disability law. We can help individuals secure an interdiction for a loved one who is unable to make decisions due to age, illness, or disability. Our experienced team guides families through the legal process of interdiction to serve as a court-appointed curator, ensuring the individual receives proper care, advocacy, and protection. By offering low-bono services, we strive to make essential legal support accessible to those who may not qualify for free legal aid but cannot afford traditional attorney fees.
LGSI provides money management and representative payee services through a state contract with the Louisiana Department of Health and on a private pay basis. As representative payee, LGSI can be a trusted and responsible payee for public benefit programs such as social security payments. LGSI provides all accounting and reporting to social security and assists in budgeting and bill payment. LGSI can also be the payee for other benefits like annuities, retirement benefits, and long-term care benefits to help manage finances.
