Guardianships: What You Need To Know
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Transcript of Guardianships: What You Need To Know
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GUARDIANSHIPSWhat You Need to Know
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There may come a time when you must consider whether someone you care for needs help seeing to their personal
affairs
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If that time comes, it helps to understand exactly what your
options are
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GUARDIANSHIP COURT PROCEEDINGS
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A guardianship requires a court proceeding where an
individual is appointed as the guardian to make decisions for
the ward
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The court may authorize the guardian to control the ward’s property and finances or control over the ward
himself
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Depending on the situation, the guardian may be given
control over both
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CHOOSING AND APPOINTING A GUARDIAN
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Courts have very broad discretion over who is
appointed
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However, a spouse, adult child, parent or sibling is usually the most likely candidate
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Some courts will take into consideration any preference
the ward may have as to who is appointed
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INCAPACITY DETERMINATION
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The first step in the process is for the court to determine whether the would-be ward
is incapacitated
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Incapacity means the inability to make proper decisions for
one’s self
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The inability may stem from a disability, cognitive
impairment, chronic drug or alcohol use or any other
medical condition
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Incapacity can also be either temporary or permanent.
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DUTIES OF A GUARDIAN
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The primary duties of a guardian are to manage the
welfare and safety of the ward
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This may include both financial and personal needs
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It is the guardian’s responsibility
to protect the ward and his or her assets
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COURT SUPERVISION
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The guardian is required to file a petition with the court in
order to obtain written permission before making
certain important decisions
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For example, the decision to withhold life-saving medical treatment requires a court
order, as does terminating parental
rights
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The guardian is also required to make annual reports to the court as to the status of the ward and the ward’s affairs
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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
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The guardian remains under court supervision
The guardian has authority that is helpful when dealing with others
ADVANTAGES:
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DISADVANTAGES:
Guardianships can be costly
The process is open to the public
Loss of power and autonomy can be humiliating
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ALTERNATIVES TO GUARDIANSHIP
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A durable power of attorney Joint bank accounts
Revocable living trustsProtective orders
Durable financial powers of attorneyAdvance directives for health care
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WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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Regardless of the cause of incapacity, it is imperative that the problem is not allowed to
progress to the point that they become a danger to themselves or others
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The best course of action would obviously be to take
care of your loved one informally, with the help of
family and friends
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But, sometimes more formal management or control is
needed
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Discuss your situation and your concerns with an estate
planning attorney so you can choose the plan that is best for
you and your family