Guardianship, Conservatorship and the Law Book

About the Author     vii
Introduction     xi
An Overview of Guardianships and Conservatorships
The Individual's Right to Self-Determination     1
Advance Planning for Incapacity     2
Guardianship and Conservatorship Defined     2
Terminology     3
The Uniform Probate Code     4
The Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act     4
The Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act     5
Guardianship of a Minor
In General     7
Purpose     8
Duties and Responsibilities     8
Basic Responsibilities     8
Custody     8
Education     9
Residence     9
Medical Treatment     9
Support and Services     10
Visitation     10
Driver's License     10
Military Service     10
Marriage     10
Misconduct     10
Additional Responsibilities     10
The Guardianship Petition     11
Filing the Petition     11
Determining the Venue     11
Notice Requirement     11
Consent Requirement     12
The Guardianship Investigation     12
The Home Study     13
The Guardianship Hearing     13
Letters of Guardianship     13
Limitations     14
Termination of the Legal Guardianship     14
Duration     14
Removal     14
Resignation     14
Adoption Distinguished     15
Guardianship of an Incapacitated Adult
In General     17
Determining Incapacity     17
Duties and Responsibilities     18
The Guardianship Petition     19
Filing the Petition     19
Eligible Petitioners     19
Procedural Steps     20
Required Information     20
Determining the Venue     20
Notice Requirement     21
Withdrawing the Petition     21
The Guardianship Investigation     22
The Medical Report     22
The Guardianship Hearing     23
Contested Case     23
Uncontested Case     23
Letters of Guardianship     24
Limitations     24
Appeal Rights     24
Limited Guardianship     25
Voting Rights     25
Mental Health Guardianship and Civil Commitment
In General     27
Mental Illness     27
Role of the Guardian     28
Challenging the Guardianship     28
Civil Commitment     29
Required Standard     29
O'Connor v. Donaldson     29
Addington v. Texas     30
Civil Commitment Procedure     31
Challenging Confinement     31
Standby Guardianship
In General     33
State Standby Guardianship Laws     34
Establishing the Standby Guardianship     35
Petition     35
Written Designation     35
Activating the Standby Guardian's Authority     36
The Court Hearing     37
Rights of the Non-Custodial Parent     37
Notice Requirement     38
Maintaining Parental Authority     38
Revoking the Standby Guardianship     38
The Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act     39
Conservatorship: Protecting the Property of the Ward
In General     41
The Role of the Conservator     41
Fiduciary Role     41
Costs and Expenses     42
Qualifications      42
Duties of the Conservator     42
Manage the Estate     43
Make Prudent Investments     43
Keep Estate Assets Separate     43
Interest-Bearing Accounts     43
Blocked Accounts     44
Miscellaneous Restrictions     44
Inventory the Estate     45
Locate Estate Property     45
Determine Value of Estate     45
File Inventory and Appraisal     45
Obtain Insurance Coverage     45
Record Keeping     45
Accounting     45
Powers of the Conservator     46
Without a Court Order     46
With a Court Order     46
Estate Planning     47
The Conservatorship Petition     47
Filing the Petition     47
Determining the Venue     48
Notice Requirement     48
Petition to Appoint Temporary Conservator     48
The Conservatorship Hearing     48
Letters of Conservatorship     49
Appeal Rights     49
Limitations     49
Ending the Conservatorship     50
Alternatives to Guardianship and Conservatorship
In General      51
Will Provision Appointing a Guardian for a Minor Child     52
The Living Will     53
Purpose     53
Requirements     53
Competency     53
Diagnosis     54
Form     54
Witnesses     54
Medical Condition     54
Life-Sustaining Treatment     55
Pregnancy Exclusions     55
Amending or Revoking Your Living Will     56
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care     56
Purpose     57
Persons Authorized to Make Health Care Decisions     57
Health Care Agent     57
Alternate Health Care Agent     57
Court-Appointed Guardian     58
Surrogate     58
Relative     58
Exclusions     58
Treatment Decisions     59
Durable Power of Attorney     60
Executing the Durable Power of Attorney     60
The Meaning of "Durable"     61
Revoking the Durable Power of Attorney     61
Social Security Representative Payee     62
Authority of the Representative Payee     62
Necessity of the Representative Payee      62
Appointment of the Representative Payee     62
Duties of the Representative Payee     63
Use of Benefits     64
Current Maintenance of the Beneficiary     64
Support of the Beneficiary's Family     64
Debts of the Beneficiary     64
Accounting Requirement     64
Replacement of the Representative Payee     65
Restoring the Beneficiary as Payee     65
Trusts     65
Revocable Living Trust     66
Joint Tenancy Accounts     66
Skills Training     66
Advance Designation of Guardian     67
Appendices
Guardianship Authorization Affidavit     69
Petition for Guardianship of a Minor     73
Notice of Guardianship Hearing     77
Letters of Guardianship     81
Order Appointing Guardian of Minor     83
Capacity Declaration     87
Petition for Appointment of Standby Guardian     91
Petition for Appointment of Conservator     97
Petition for Appointment of Temporary Conservator     105
Letters of Temporary Conservatorship     109
Order Appointing Temporary Conservator     111
Letters of Conservatorship      115
Order Appointing Conservator     119
Will Provision Appointing A Guardian for a Minor Child     123
Living Will     125
Table of State Living Will Statutes     129
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care     133
SSA Request to be Selected as Representative Payee (Form SSA-11-BK)     137
Glossary     151
Bibliography and Additional Resources     173