Has a loved one recently been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease?
Here’s what you need to know now: STEP ONE: If you’re concerned as to whether or not the individual in question is capable of making rational, clear-headed decisions about their health care, daily living decisions or placement decisions, you first need to determine if they’ve executed a Health Care POA (Power of Attorney). This document allows an individual to decide for his or her self who can serve as their agent in handling their medical related issues if and when they are unable to do so on their own. This document should not be confused with a General Power of Attorney which addresses banking and other transactional business (and is discussed in other posts on this blog). If your loved one has not executed a Health Care POA, proceed to STEP TWO. If they have, please congratulate them on being prepared as they’ve just saved themselves (and you) a major hassle. Only proceed to STEP TWO if the person they nominated is unable or unwilling to serve or you have reason to believe they are taking advantage of their powers. STEP TWO: Before approaching the Probate Court or your attorney to begin the Guardianship process, it’s first wise to consult with the loved ones medical provider and personal attorney to determine whether or not it’s too late to have them execute a Health Care POA. Remember, a diagnosis doesn’t mean the person is already fully incapacitated and these professionals can help determine if costly court intervention can be avoided by having a capacity examination and simultaneously executing documents whereby the loved one makes their own choice as to who should make their decisions in the future. This can also prove useful if the loved one needs to revoke a previously executed document because the person they named (their agent) is no longer acting in their best interest. STEP THREE: Often times referred to as and confused with a “conservatorship,” guardianship is needed when a someone who is incapacitated due to age or disability has not named a Health Care Power of Attorney to address their health care needs. If your loved one didn’t take this step or is no longer able to do so, you must petition the court for guardianship. This process often takes several months and requires that two (2) examiners find the person is no longer able to make their own decisions. Following that ruling, the court will then transfer duties such as daily medical care, living arrangements, and medical decision-making to the petitioner. This process can be timely and in some cases costly, especially if family members disagree as to whether or not a guardianship is necessary or disagree as to who should be making such decisions. Here are a few common questions we are asked about the process:
The following is a list of possible duties of a guardian:
To the extent possible, the guardian should seek feedback from the ward when making these decisions.
If you need further information related to guardianships, please refer to our blog or contact our office to set up an office or phone consultation. We have a dedicated team of attorneys who work regularly in this area and can help guide you through this difficult process.
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AuthorThis blog is authored by the probate law team at Provence Messervy which includes Tiffany Provence, David Causey and Virginia Spencer. Categories
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