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Guardianship and Its Alternatives
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Guardianship and Its Alternatives
Disclaimer: This publication is intended to provide information only, and is not intended as legal advice. You should consult a lawyer if you need legal advice.
Guardianship takes away a person's ability to make choices. Because the appointment of a guardian takes away a person's ability to make decisions about his or her life, other options which place fewer restrictions on the person with a disability should be considered first. One of these less restrictive options may be able to meet the person's needs without the appointment of a guardian.
In addition to this list of FAQs, refer to the OLRS publication, Take Charge of Your Life: Know About Guardianship for more information and resources.
List of FAQs
Document Publication Date October 2006
A guardian is a person, corporation or an association appointed by a probate court to be
legally responsible for another person and/or for another person's property (estate) when
that person is unable to manage his or her personal needs or property because of a mental
disability. Only a "natural person" (not a corporation) can be appointed as a guardian of the
person. The only exception to this rule is that Advocacy and Protection Services, Inc. (APSI) can serve as guardian of the person.
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A ward is the person for whom a guardian has been appointed.
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A probate court will appoint a guardian to direct the legal, financial affairs and/or the
personal care of a person who is not able to manage his or her own affairs because of a
mental disability. Family members or others can ask the court to act to protect someone
who appears to be lacking ability to do so for him or herself and is therefore "incompetent."
If the court finds that the person is incompetent and a guardianship is necessary, the court
will appoint a guardian. Once appointed, a guardian is accountable to the probate court for
providing proper care and management of the ward's affairs in the ward's best interest.
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The control that a guardian has over a ward is limited to the authority granted by Ohio
statutes, decisions of Ohio courts, and orders and rules of the probate court. All guardians
must obey the orders and judgments of the probate court which appointed them. The
probate court may give broad and far-reaching powers to a guardian, or it may limit or deny
any power granted under Ohio statutes or Ohio case law. Ohio law provides for different
types of guardianships.
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There are several types of guardianship in Ohio:
- Guardianship of the Estate - Guardianship of the estate gives the guardian the authority to
make all financial decisions for the ward.
- Guardianship of the Person - Guardianship of the person gives the guardian the authority
to make day-to-day decisions of a personal nature, except financial decisions, on behalf
of the ward. Such decisions would include such things as arrangements for food, clothing,
living arrangements, medical care, recreation and education. It includes consent for medical
care and other treatment or training programs such as individual habilitation plans (IHPs).
- Guardianship of Person and Estate - The court can appoint a guardianship of person and
estate which gives the guardian the authority to make nearly all decisions for the individual,
and combines the authority of guardianship of person and guardianship of estate.
- Emergency Guardianship - Emergency guardianship allows a probate court to issue any
order that it considers necessary to prevent injury to the person or the person's estate or
may appoint someone as guardian without prior notice to the person and without a formal
hearing when:
1) an emergency exists, and
2) a guardian is necessary to prevent injury to the person or
estate of the person who is incompetent.
This initial appointment of an emergency guardian may last for a maximum of seventy-two
hours. For good cause shown, after notice to the person who is incompetent and other
interested parties, and after a hearing, the court may extend an emergency guardianship for
a specified period of time, but not to exceed an additional thirty days.
- Interim Guardianship - An "interim guardian" is a guardian appointed after a former guardian
has been removed or resigns when the welfare of the ward requires immediate action.
- Co-Guardianship - Co-guardianship is when two people are appointed to act as guardian
for someone at the same time.
- Limited Guardianship - Limited guardianship allows a probate court to appoint someone as
guardian over only the portion of a person's life where he or she is both incompetent and has
a need. Thus, there can be a limited guardian for medical purposes only (to provide consent
for medical procedures), or for placement purposes only (admission to a group home), or
for the limited purpose of approving behavior plans and/or psychotropic medications. This
less restrictive form of guardianship should be used instead of full guardianship whenever
possible. A ward for whom a limited guardian has been appointed retains all rights in all
areas not covered by the court's order.
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There are several types of guardianship in Ohio. The rights taken away depend upon the type of guardianship established by the probate court.
- If a guardian of the estate is appointed, the guardian's decisions can not be contested.
However, even if the ward has a guardian of the estate, the ward can make contracts for
necessary items.
- If a guardian of person is appointed, the ward may make any decision that is not contrary to
the authority of guardian. Also, the ward can contest the presumption that he or she does
not have the ability to make a decision.
- The loss of personal rights is why guardianship is a very serious step that should be taken
as a matter of last resort. A limited guardianship that identifies and limits a specific area in a
person's life, and does not affect any other rights, is preferred if guardianship is necessary.
Less restrictive alternatives to guardianship should be considered before
guardianship because these options allow the person to keep as many personal rights as
possible while providing protection in those areas the person needs.
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Some areas of the person's life may involve fundamental rights or a right of privacy. There
may be specific medical procedures, such as those that implicate reproductive rights, for example
abortion or sterilization, that should be decided by the person whenever possible. If this is not
possible, the law may require the guardian to ask the probate court to review the guardian's
decision. In addition, voting is a fundamental right. Unless a court specifically rules, after a
hearing, that a person is incompetent for purposes of voting, the person retains the right to
vote even if the person has a guardian of the person and the estate.
While a guardian can "voluntarily" admit the ward to a developmental center, or psychiatric
hospital, without prior approval of court, the court may review the admission subsequently
upon request for release by the Ohio Legal Rights Service or the person.
Also, some rights are personal to the ward and cannot be exercised by a guardian. A
guardian cannot make a will or execute a power of attorney for the ward. The ward may be
able to exercise these rights if he or she has the capacity to do so.
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A person may have significant deficits in life, but the person's support network (for example,
families, friends, service providers) may be so effective that guardianship is not necessary.
Other options exist that can effectively address a person's needs without the appointment of a
guardian:
- Representative Payeeship or Authorized Representative - If the person's only significant
income comes from government benefits, it may not be necessary for the person
to have a guardian of the estate or a plenary guardian. A representative payee may be
able to manage all of the person's financial needs. A representative payeeship or authorized representative may be available for state and federal benefit or entitlement programs including but not limited to regular Social Security,
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), VA (Veterans Administration) benefits, Railroad
Retirement Benefits, welfare benefits, and Black Lung benefits. For more information about representative payeeships contact the appropriate government office [the Social Security Administration (SSA), Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Office
of Personnel Management (OPM), Railroad Retirement Board (RRB)].
- Trust - A trust could be used instead of a guardianship of the estate, to handle funds for the
person.
- Conservatorship - A "conservator" is a person appointed by the probate court at the request
of a mentally competent adult who is physically unable to manage certain aspects of his
or her life. The person requesting the appointment of a conservator specifies the powers
requested on the Petition for Conservatorship. If a person is mentally competent but has a physical disability that limits the ability to manage matters, the person can:
- Ask the probate court to appoint a conservator.
- Choose the person who will become the conservator.
- Dismiss the conservator if the person wants to change to a different conservator.
- Specify to the court just what authority he or she wants the conservator to have.
- Ask the probate court to end the conservatorship because the person's physical disability
has decreased and a conservatorship is no longer necessary.
- Adult Protective Services for Adults with Developmental
Disabilities - A court may order a county board of DD to provide protective services
for up to one year to an adult with mental retardation or other developmental disability who
is being abused or neglected, if that adult lacks the capacity to protect him or herself.
- Adult Protective Services for the Elderly - If the person who needs protection from harm is
over age 60, the person might be eligible for other protective services protective services available to the elderly.
Ohio law requires county departments of Job and Family Services to receive and investigate
reports of elder abuse of persons 60 years of age and older (some offices may investigate
reports of abuse of vulnerable adults under 60). Elder abuse may include physical, sexual,
emotional or financial abuse or neglect of an elder. A court can order these services for up
to 14 days. If you suspect an elder is being abused, contact your county Department of Job
and Family Services (refer to Resources for contact information).
- Long-term Care Ombudsman - If the person lives in a nursing home or adult care facility
and has unmet needs or problems with care, the long-term care ombudsman can help.
Ombudsmen take complaints about long-term care services, and voice the person's needs
and concerns to nursing homes, home health agencies, and other providers of long-term
care. The Ombudsman Office works with the long-term care provider, the person, the
person's family, or other representatives to resolve problems and concerns about the quality
of services. Ombudsmen link people with the services or agencies needed to live a more productive,
fulfilling life, provide advice on selecting long-term care in Ohio, provide information about the
rights of consumers, and provide information and assistance with benefits and insurance. If you have questions, concerns or complaints about any long-term care service, contact
your regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman (refer to Resources for contact information).
- Protection Orders - It would be too restrictive to take away a person's rights through a
guardianship in order to keep that person safe, when it might be possible to accomplish the
same thing with a court order of protection. A person may also be able to ask that a court
order someone who is hurting that person or threatening to hurt that person to stay away
and not have any contact. There are two kinds of protection orders: a Civil Protection Order
which can last up to 5 years or a Temporary Protection Order which is issued by a criminal
court judge.
- Powers of Attorney - A power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else
authority to act on a person's behalf. A person must be competent when he or she gives
someone else this authority. Powers of attorney can be revoked at any time. If you are
thinking about creating a power of attorney, you should consider that there is no oversight
of the person acting with the power of attorney and, because of this, it can be used in ways
contrary to your interests. An example of one type of a power of attorney would be when a competent person gives
someone else the power to make health care decisions for him or her at a later time through
a durable power of attorney for health care. For more information about Powers of Attorney or health care visit the Advance Directives section of this Web site.
- Circle of Support, Volunteer Advocate, and Good Programs and Services - An alternative to
guardianship is to make sure the person has a support system that meets all of the person's
needs and advocates in the person's behalf. Refer to Resources for a list of agencies to
contact.
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Ohio law prohibits someone who is providing services to a person with mental retardation or
developmental disabilities from also serving as the person's guardian. This provision is based
on the assumption that it would be impossible for a person who is providing services to also be
an effective advocate if problems arise with that service provider.
The court will send notice that the guardianship application has been filed to all next of kin
who live in the state, in case they wish to object to the guardianship. It will also ask a probate
court investigator to interview the prospective ward and people who know him or her, and to
make a recommendation to the probate court as to whether the guardianship is necessary.
The investigator will also give the prospective ward information about his or her rights in the
process.
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The court will set the matter for hearing, often before a magistrate instead of the judge. If
everyone is in agreement that the guardianship is needed, or if no one appears to object,
then a letter of guardianship is awarded. If anyone objects, including the person who would
receive the guardian, then the hearing becomes more like a trial where witnesses will be
examined and cross-examined.
The proposed ward has the right to object to having a guardian appointed for him or her
and has several other due process rights, including these:
- The right to be present during the hearing;
- The right to have an attorney represent him or her, even if he or she cannot afford one;
- The right to have the court appoint an attorney at no cost if he or she can not afford
one;
- The right to prevent his or her personal physician and certain other parties from testifying
against him or her; and
- The right to have an independent evaluation.
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The probate judge is the superior guardian, and anyone can provide information to the court to help the judge determine if the guardian is doing his or her duties. The ward may always ask the judge to issue instructions to the guardian requiring the guardian to agree to specific things, such as allowing the ward to participate in a vocational program or to move to a community based setting.
If a guardian has consented to medical care, the ward or an "interested party" can object, and the court must hold a hearing to determine whether the medical care is in the best interests of the ward. An "interested party" can also seek periodic review of the need for guardianship.
The judge can also remove a guardian who has engaged in misconduct, such as stealing from the ward. In this case, another individual may be appointed to act as the person's guardian.
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Sometimes it becomes apparent that a guardianship never should have been granted
for the person with a disability. Also, that person may no longer need a guardian and has
regained the ability to make some or all life decisions. In such cases, it is appropriate to
approach the probate court with a motion to terminate a guardianship, or a motion to reduce
a guardianship to a limited guardianship. There are provisions in the law where the ward
may file a motion to the court asking that the guardianship be ended. The ward can request
that the court appoint an attorney to represent him or her in the hearing.
The marriage of a ward terminates the guardianship of the person, but not of the estate.
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If you or someone close to you needs information about guardianship or alternatives to
guardianship, contact the probate court in your county (refer to Resources for contact information).
Ask friends and family members for the name of an attorney who is knowledgeable about
probate matters. If necessary, contact the lawyer referral service operated by your local bar
association or one nearby. In Ohio, there is also a lawyer referral service in each metropolitan
area, operated by the local bar association. (For a Web listing of lawyer referral services in
Ohio, refer to Find A Lawyer on the Ohio State Bar Association Web site) Also, you
may refer to the Yellow Pages of your local telephone directory. Check the Yellow Pages
under "associations" or "attorney referral services."
You may also contact your local legal aid office to see if you qualify for free legal services.
You can get a list of organizations in Ohio that provide free or low cost legal services or
referrals in your county. To access your local legal services program, use the toll free number
1-866-529-6446 of the Ohio Legal Services Web site.
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