Elder Law 101 Series | Emotional Aspects of Guardianship and Conservatorships

By the time a client decides to contact an attorney to obtain guardianship and/or conservatorship of a loved one, there has likely been significant strife and stress to get them to that point.  Taking the next step to file a petition and go to court can be overwhelming and heartbreaking.  Part of our jobs as advocates is to not only provide our clients with zealous representation, but also to help them through the process.

For many, the potential person subject to guardianship and conservatorship becomes hostile and bitter towards the petitioner for many different reasons including disagreement that the person needs a guardian/conservator, allegations in the petition, or for dragging up old family history.  Attorneys must be prepared to help their clients through the range of emotions that a petitioner feels when going through this process so that the primary goal of ensuring their loved one’s health, safety, and wellbeing or protection from financial exploitation stays at the forefront to guide decisions.  By recognizing the emotional aspects of guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, attorneys can be not only great advocates, but also great counsel for their clients through these difficult proceedings.
This session will walk through example cases and discuss the emotional aspects at each stage and how best to support clients through the process.

This CLE is approved for credit through December 2, 2023.