A Guardianship Proceeding is a last resort mechanism for when someone is no longer competent to make their own personal and financial decisions, and has not executed a sufficiently broad Durable General Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy. Here are six factors to consider prior to commencing and filing the proceeding:
(1) Determine whether the Alleged Incapacitated Person (AIP) has executed a valid Durable General Power of Attorney (POA), Health Care Proxy (HCP), Living Will and HIPAA form. The existence of the aforestated advance directives may prevent the need for a Guardianship Proceeding if they are sufficiently broad enough to deal with the issues in the particular case at hand. For example, in many instances, a valid POA has been executed, but it is not sufficiently broad to address the AIP’s financial needs. There may be an immediate need for broad gifting powers for Medicaid and/or estate planning purposes where the POA only permits gifting to specific people and in a limited dollar amount.
(2) Review how title to the AIP’s assets is held. Does the AIP have assets in joint title with others? If so, can these assets be accessed by the joint title holder if the AIP is not able to make decisions as to his or her financial affairs? If so, a Guardianship proceeding may not be necessary as to those assets.
(3) Has the AIP executed a Last Will and Testament or an Inter Vivos Trust? If a Last Will or Inter Vivos Trust are in existence, it will be important to determine whether or not any proposed transfer or disposition of the AIP’s assets sought in the Guardianship Proceeding is consistent or inconsistent with the AIP’s wishes expressed therein. If a beneficiary(ies) under an existing Last Will or Trust is affected by a proposed transfer, he or she will be entitled to notice of the Proceeding and a right to be heard.
(4) Prior to filing a Guardianship Proceeding, it is important to determine whether the powers the Guardians will seek are of an “unlimited” or “definite” duration—meaning, is there a likelihood the AIP will be able to handle his or her financial affairs at a later date. It will also be necessary to determine whether there are any specific or special powers over the person or property the Guardian requires that are not enumerated as part of the standard powers provided for under the Mental Hygiene Law. Perhaps the Guardian needs the power to relocate the AIP to another state or wishes to make gifts or transfers of the AIP’s property. Such powers must be specifically granted to the Guardian, sometimes in a separate proceeding.
(5) Is there the possibility the Guardianship will be contested? It is always a difficult decision to commence a Guardianship for one’s father or mother, but the decision is more difficult when the Petitioner knows or believes that mom, dad or a sibling will contest it. Entering a litigious proceeding with a parent or a loved one may have significant consequences, depending on the level of mental capacity of the AIP.
(6) Is the appointment of a temporary or independent Guardian advisable? In cases where there exists a significant possibility for either personal or financial harm to the AIP because he or she is unable to handle his or her affairs, it may be advisable to request that the Petitioner(s) or an independent third party be appointed as temporary Guardian pending the final determination of the Court. This is often utilized when there is an immediate need to marshal the AIP’s assets to prevent waste, dissipation or fraud, or where there is an immediate need for someone to handle the AIP’s personal and financial affairs. Additionally, in a contested Guardianship setting, an independent non-related third party may be appointed as the Guardian of the AIP in a final order by the Court to avoid any parties to the matter from making decisions regarding the AIP, where they cannot come to an agreement as to what is in the AIP’s best interest and who should act as the Guardian long term.
Although the above-stated considerations are not the only factors to consider prior to commencing a Guardianship, in my experience, they are often the most important!
Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a Senior Associate at Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and she enjoys working with individuals to ensure that their plan best suits their needs. Ms. Enea received a B.S. in Business Management from Quinnipiac University graduating Magna Cum Laude and a J.D. from the Pace University School of Law graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. She can be contacted at 914-948-1500 or www.esslawfirm.com
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27 Feb 2024
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A Guardianship Proceeding is a last resort mechanism for when someone is no longer competent to make their own personal and financial decisions, and has not executed a sufficiently broad Durable General Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy. Here are six factors to consider prior to commencing and filing the proceeding:
(1) Determine whether the Alleged Incapacitated Person (AIP) has executed a valid Durable General Power of Attorney (POA), Health Care Proxy (HCP), Living Will and HIPAA form. The existence of the aforestated advance directives may prevent the need for a Guardianship Proceeding if they are sufficiently broad enough to deal with the issues in the particular case at hand. For example, in many instances, a valid POA has been executed, but it is not sufficiently broad to address the AIP’s financial needs. There may be an immediate need for broad gifting powers for Medicaid and/or estate planning purposes where the POA only permits gifting to specific people and in a limited dollar amount.
(2) Review how title to the AIP’s assets is held. Does the AIP have assets in joint title with others? If so, can these assets be accessed by the joint title holder if the AIP is not able to make decisions as to his or her financial affairs? If so, a Guardianship proceeding may not be necessary as to those assets.
(3) Has the AIP executed a Last Will and Testament or an Inter Vivos Trust? If a Last Will or Inter Vivos Trust are in existence, it will be important to determine whether or not any proposed transfer or disposition of the AIP’s assets sought in the Guardianship Proceeding is consistent or inconsistent with the AIP’s wishes expressed therein. If a beneficiary(ies) under an existing Last Will or Trust is affected by a proposed transfer, he or she will be entitled to notice of the Proceeding and a right to be heard.
(4) Prior to filing a Guardianship Proceeding, it is important to determine whether the powers the Guardians will seek are of an “unlimited” or “definite” duration—meaning, is there a likelihood the AIP will be able to handle his or her financial affairs at a later date. It will also be necessary to determine whether there are any specific or special powers over the person or property the Guardian requires that are not enumerated as part of the standard powers provided for under the Mental Hygiene Law. Perhaps the Guardian needs the power to relocate the AIP to another state or wishes to make gifts or transfers of the AIP’s property. Such powers must be specifically granted to the Guardian, sometimes in a separate proceeding.
(5) Is there the possibility the Guardianship will be contested? It is always a difficult decision to commence a Guardianship for one’s father or mother, but the decision is more difficult when the Petitioner knows or believes that mom, dad or a sibling will contest it. Entering a litigious proceeding with a parent or a loved one may have significant consequences, depending on the level of mental capacity of the AIP.
(6) Is the appointment of a temporary or independent Guardian advisable? In cases where there exists a significant possibility for either personal or financial harm to the AIP because he or she is unable to handle his or her affairs, it may be advisable to request that the Petitioner(s) or an independent third party be appointed as temporary Guardian pending the final determination of the Court. This is often utilized when there is an immediate need to marshal the AIP’s assets to prevent waste, dissipation or fraud, or where there is an immediate need for someone to handle the AIP’s personal and financial affairs. Additionally, in a contested Guardianship setting, an independent non-related third party may be appointed as the Guardian of the AIP in a final order by the Court to avoid any parties to the matter from making decisions regarding the AIP, where they cannot come to an agreement as to what is in the AIP’s best interest and who should act as the Guardian long term.
Although the above-stated considerations are not the only factors to consider prior to commencing a Guardianship, in my experience, they are often the most important!