Growing older can be a mixed bag. On the one hand, you are (hopefully) reaping the rewards of a lifetime of work and looking forward to a comfortable retirement. On the other hand, this transition often brings its own financial, health and psychological challenges, especially if you don’t have much in the way of close family.

One thing you probably don’t worry about is being declared incompetent and having a complete stranger show up at your home to forcibly take you to a nursing home, then seize your property and belongings and pay themselves handsomely to care for you whether you want (or need) it or not. But it happens – it’s called involuntary guardianship and it’s estimated that somewhere between 1 and 3 million senior citizens are languishing under it today.

It’s actually frighteningly easy for a professional guardian to declare you incompetent to manage your own affairs and take control of every aspect of your life: where you live, which doctors you see, and how much contact you have with friends and family. Here’s what you need to know.

State laws vary, but generally the process is similar. The concept of adult guardianship falls under the concept of parens patriae powers of government, which gives the state the authority to act as a “parent” for those who cannot care for themselves. There is nothing wrong with this, and it is often a necessity for people who are truly unable to manage their own lives.