Q. My husband is a handy DIYer, and it has saved us lots money, in many instances. Now, he is insisting on doing our Estate Planning documents, including our Wills and our Financial Powers of Attorney, on his own. I am glad he wants to take the initiative, but I am thinking that this is […]
How Conservatorship Can Lead to Abuse — UVA Law Professor Weighs In
Q. There has been so much coverage in the news about Britney Spears and her court-enforced conservatorship, and now I’m confused about conservatorships in general. I thought conservatorships are for people with severe cognitive impairments, and from what I’ve read about her, she may have had bad judgment in the past, but she doesn’t seem […]
Is the New Netflix Movie “I Care A Lot” Realistic About Guardianship?
Q. I just watched “I Care A Lot” on Netflix and it was certainly eye-opening. In the story, a shady legal guardian, Marla Grayson, abuses the system by targeting wards that don’t really need her, places them in care facilities, and then assumes control of their assets. I was outraged that such a thing could […]
Boo! Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2020 (A Very Scary Year!)
2020 has been a scary year! Since we’re so close to Halloween, it’s a perfect time to catch up on some of the scariest elder law, estate planning, and special needs planning articles until now. Exposing everything from dementia at 30 to coronavirus patients being moved to nursing homes, our subject matter can get pretty […]
When Guardianship Turns into a Nightmare
Kim Stryker, a Virginia resident, was a long-distance caregiver for her father, Steven Stryker, a Navy veteran residing in Florida. Steven had his share of health issues over the years including alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from his time in Vietnam. Steven’s health got worse in 2018. Because Kim lived so […]
Supported Decision-Making Instead of Guardianship in DC
Dear Hayek, I read that once a senior is declared incapacitated and has a guardian placed on him or her, it is really hard to terminate the situation. Is that really the case? I heard about some positive change happening as far as guardianship and senior rights in DC. Can you tell me more […]
A Moon Landing, an Anniversary, and a Reconciliation
Fifty years ago, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, and lunar module pilots Michael Collins and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin to the first lunar orbit. Many of us remember Armstrong describing the event on television as “…one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” A recent documentary was released […]
Why Guardianship Should Be a Last Resort
Terri Black had always planned to care for her widowed father in her home if he ever became too frail to care for himself. When her father’s dementia and other health issues became too much to handle, her father’s girlfriend, Helen Natko, called and asked Terri to take him. At the same time, Helen transferred […]
Adult Children Seek Guardianship of Their Astronaut Dad, Buzz Aldrin
In July 1969, the first person to set foot on the moon’s surface was Neil Armstrong. Nine minutes later, Edwin Eugene “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. touched down. History was made! On the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 next year, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 88, seeks to remain an influential voice on our country’s space exploration policy. Just […]
Our Top 10 Scariest Articles of 2017 (Be Very Afraid!)
Halloween is today, so it’s the ideal day to present you with this year’s scariest articles. From parents being kidnapped by a professional guardian to people getting Alzheimer’s at 40, we uncovered some scary ground. To celebrate Halloween, we’ve ranked our scariest articles from least to most scary (but you be the judge) for […]
Her Parents Were Kidnapped by a Professional Guardian
Rudy North was an avid reader, who had a sharp mind and liked to write down quotes from his favorite books. Rennie, his wife of fifty-seven years, was recovering from lymphoma and suffered from neuropathy so severe that her legs felt lifeless. Yet, she spent her mornings prettying herself up for her husband, who referred […]
When Loved Ones Aren’t Permitted to Visit
Peter Falk and his daughter, Catherine. (from dalje.com) Jane and Maria are sisters who haven’t spoken in ten years due to a disagreement over their mother’s care. Jane was a caregiver for her mother, Millie, and served as her guardian and had Power of Attorney until she passed away. Maria lived in another state and […]
How Nursing Homes are Collecting Debts- More Reason to Plan Ahead
Lillian Palermo, a 90-year old retired insurance executive, entered a nursing home after she began experiencing dementia, falls, and surgical complications. Her husband, Dino, who is eight years her junior, visits her every day. He sings her favorite songs, feeds her home-cooked Italian food, and pays a private aide to be there when he cannot. […]