About Us

In the Adult Guardianship Division, the Cook County Public Guardian, Robert F. Harris, serves as the court-appointed guardian for individuals adjudicated disabled by a judge in the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.  The Public Guardian can act as the legal guardian of a disabled person only by Probate Court appointment.  The Public Guardian's authorities and responsibilities are bound by the Probate Act of 1975 and other relevant statutes.  The Public Guardian may serve as guardian in the following capacities:  Plenary or Limited Guardian of the Estate and Person, Plenary or Limited Guardian of the Estate only, Plenary or Limited Guardian of the Person only, or a combination of limited and plenary guardianship.  Plenary guardianship gives full authorities and responsibilities to the Public Guardian to make decisions for the disabled person.  Limited guardianship gives some authorities and responsibilities to the Public Guardian; and the disabled person retains some decision-making about his or her own person or estate.  As guardian of the person, the Public Guardian is responsible for the personal well-being of the disabled person.  As guardian of the estate, the Public Guardian is responsible for the disabled person's finances, legal matters, and personal and real property.

In certain situations, the Public Guardian may be appointed to serve as temporary guardian for an "alleged disabled person."  An "alleged disabled person" is an individual who has not been adjudicated disabled by the Probate Court, but is a respondent to a pending Petition for Appointment of a Guardian for a Disabled Person.  This means that the Public Guardian's Office or a third party has filed a petition alleging that the individual is disabled and a doctor's report accompanied the filing of the petition, but the Probate Court has not made a legal determination as to whether the respondent is disabled.

The Public Guardian's Office serves as guardian for disabled individuals age 18 and older.  Individuals referred to the Public Guardian's Office have a wide range of issues and needs.  The uniting factor for all persons under the Public Guardian's care is that they need assistance to maximize their level of independence whether in the community, assisted or supportive living arrangements, group homes, or skilled nursing homes. Currently, the Public Guardian serves as guardian for approximately 800 individuals with disabilities.  Approximately 80 cases are under investigation in the Intake Department every month.  Approximately 70% of the disabled adults served by the Public Guardian's Office are over the age of 65.  About 49% of disabled adults suffer from dementia, Alzheimer 's disease or other mental (organic) degenerative disease; 31% severe mental illness; 12% developmental disabilities; 3% traumatic brain injury; and 6% stroke-related brain damage, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, Asperger syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabling conditions.

Success Stories

	Juvenile Success stories regarding our juvenile clients Read more
	Adult Success stories regarding our disabled adults Read more

What's New Read more

	New Policy & Legislation Recently passed laws of interest to those representing disabled adults and abused & neglected children in Illinois. Read more Adult Juvenile
	OPG Appellate Developments OPG files Amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in Camreta v. Greene. Read more Recent Appellate and Supreme Court decisions Read more