March 25, 2025 by Nesibe Selma
Lone Star Legal Aid’s Lori Fergie Helps Disabled Veteran Secure Temporary Guardianship for Son
Paris Groves is a disabled veteran relying on VA compensation benefits to make ends meet. Her adult son, who attends school in Chicago, lives with his father. One day, her son abruptly became unresponsive and went missing. After a search, he was found in a catatonic state, unable to speak or move on his own. His condition left his body stiff, though it could be moved, and while he occasionally seemed alert, he primarily remained nonverbal. Doctors had not yet determined a diagnosis.
Given his critical condition, the parents decided that it was best for him to return to Texas to live with his mother, who lived in a single-story home, unlike his father’s higher-story apartment in Chicago. Though she received VA benefits, Ms. Groves still faced financial challenges and extra expenses due to her son’s medical needs. While she and her ex-husband could unenroll their son from university without issue, Ms. Groves now needed to apply for Medicaid to cover his medical care. She also had to interact with the VA regarding her son’s educational benefits, which were paid through her as his veteran sponsor. However, since he was no longer enrolled in school, those benefits would come to a halt, and the VA would not communicate with her without proper Power of Attorney documentation, which her son could not provide due to his incapacitation.
Dependents of veterans may be eligible to use VA education benefits through programs like the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Transferred Benefits). The DEA (Chapter 35) offers financial help for college, career training, or certification to children or spouses of veterans who are permanently disabled due to service, missing in action, or deceased from a service-connected cause. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® Transfer allows Veterans who qualify to transfer unused education benefits to their spouse or children, helping cover tuition, housing, books, and fees.
While VA benefits can open doors to education for many veteran families, some dependents face urgent legal challenges that must be addressed before they can access those opportunities. With no diagnosis in place, doctors could not begin the legal process for guardianship. MVU attorney Lori Fergie worked with the mother to pursue temporary guardianship, a legal option for situations requiring urgent action to protect an individual’s health and well-being. This type of guardianship allows a responsible adult—often a parent, relative, or caregiver—to make important decisions on behalf of someone who is temporarily unable to make those decisions for themselves, such as a child with a disability or a medically fragile adult. Courts grant temporary guardianships when there is clear evidence that immediate action is needed to prevent serious harm or to safeguard the individual’s legal rights. Temporary guardianship may serve as a bridge to a more permanent legal arrangement or remain in place until the individual’s condition stabilizes or other long-term solutions are explored.
A Guardian Ad Litem Attorney* was appointed to represent the son in the case. After reviewing the situation and holding a hearing, the attorney accepted the mother’s request for temporary guardianship. The judge granted temporary guardianship for up to 60 days, allowing Ms. Groves to step in immediately and make decisions on behalf of her son. Recognizing the urgency of the situation and Ms. Groves’ limited financial resources, the court set a modest bond of just $25, rather than a higher amount that would have required a commercial bondsman and added unnecessary delays and expenses.
Thanks to LSLA’s legal support and advocacy, Ms. Groves overcame these barriers quickly. This empowered her to address her son’s urgent medical, educational, and daily care needs without interruption. The temporary guardianship gave her peace of mind and a clear path forward during a highly stressful and uncertain time.
* A court-appointed attorney or trained volunteer—assigned to represent the best interests of someone who cannot advocate for themselves in a legal case.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.LoneStarLegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org
