Guardianship

Also see: Elder Abuse

“Art Imitates Life — Inside the Insidious World of Elder Guardianships”
(Diane Dimond — February 27, 2021)
“I found a myriad of actual cases, nationwide, in which that original petition for guardianship was grossly exaggerated and, in some cases, completely fabricated.  But once a judge accepts such a petition and the senior becomes a “ward of the court,” it is next to impossible to undo.  Guardians, often paid hundreds of dollars an hour, and those they hire on to attend to the elderly are paid out of the ward’s life savings.  It is a cottage industry of elder law attorneys, guardians, caregivers, real estate agents and others who feast on the spoils of the ward’s life after guardianship takes hold.”

“Remembering Betty”
(Diane Dimond — August 3, 2019)
The marvelous Betty Winstanley died recently, just shy of her 98th birthday, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She died in the captivity of a court-sanctioned guardianship that haunted her final years.  Her life never should have ended this way.

“S. 178: Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act”
A bill to prevent elder abuse and exploitation and improve the just system’s response to victims in elder abuse and exploitation cases.  Enacted and signed by President trump on October 18, 2017.

“The Takeover”
(The New Yorker — October 8, 2017)
Senior Citizens are losing their assets and their autonomy in a hidden system….
A study published this year by the American Bar Association found that “an unknown number of adults languish under guardianship” when they no longer need it, or never did.

“Congress Steps Up to Control Court-Ordered Guardianships”
(Diane Dimond — October 7, 2017)
After more than two years of investigation, I’ve discovered a veritable racket of uncaring and dishonest guardians, their staffs, and elder law lawyers who concentrate more on billable hours (paid for out of the wards’ estates) than on what is truly in the elders’ best interests.

“Grand jury indicts Nevada guardian on more than 200 charges”
(Las Vegas Review Journal — March 8, 2017)
As a guardian, April Parks was tasked with caring for the elderly and infirm in Southern Nevada.  As a guardian, she had full control over those people’s finances, their property and nearly every aspect of their lives.  And, as a guardian, Parks exploited at least 150 of those vulnerable Nevadans and “systematically bilked them out of their life savings,” law enforcement officials said Wednesday.

Five-part series on court-appointed professional guardians.
(Albuquerque Journal — November 26 – December 1, 2016)
Includes:
Part one: Who guards the guardians?
Part two: Court appointees have incredible power
Part three: Family members say they were shut out
Part four: Family members feel helpless when court takes control
Part five: Children feel steamrolled as parents’ estates disappear
Fixing a well-meaning but flawed guardian system

Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianships
Focuses attention to the plight of victims of Guardianship Abuse.