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Exercises guardianship on behalf of the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) to protect the well-being, rights, and welfare of people who are determined by the court to be in need of supervision, protection, or assistance, and lack the active assistance of a family member or private guardian. The program also provides Representative Payee Services to persons receiving and managing Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), whether they are under public guardianship, or as an effective alternative to guardianship. Representative Payee Services will arrange for public benefit checks (usually Social Security or SSI) to be sent to a public agency, nonprofit organization, bank, relative or other individual who has been appointed under federal law to act as a surrogate for recipients in situations where they have a cognitive impairment and are unable to manage their own funds.

Handles adoptions, regular guardianships, emancipation of minors, death and marriage records, the establishment of decedents' wills, the settlement of decedents' estates, and decisions relating to the administration of the estates of minors and individuals adjudged to be incompetent to manage their own affairs. Also handles trusts and name changes. Offers to file wills for safekeeping.

Provides an online Minor Guardianship informational page that explains Vermont's minor guardianship procedures. In probate court families are able to enter into voluntary arrangements for the care of minor children without state intervention.