Guardianship program protects vulnerable citizens

Every county in Ohio has its own probate court, and each court is responsible for more than 200 separate duties.

The duties include handling wills, administration of estates and trusts, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes and appointment of guardians for minors and incompetent adults.

Locally, the probate and juvenile courts are divisions of the Common Pleas Court of Guernsey County, and are led by Judge David Bennett.

The probate court is the superior guardian of those placed in guardianships and is responsible for monitoring guardians to make sure that they fulfill their duties.

Guardianship is one of the more restrictive protective services available under Ohio law and is only necessary when individuals are unable to care for their basic needs, finances, or medical issues and when a less-restrictive alternative is not feasible.

People placed in guardianship are especially vulnerable, and there is a great need for willing volunteers, family members, and attorneys to act on their behalf. In many cases, every decision affecting those individuals is in another person’s hands.

That is why it is so important for guardians to carry out their duties responsibly.

A guardian holds a unique role with respect to the minor or incompetent adult, and the guardian has an obligation to obtain an understanding of the fundamentals of that relationship. Formalized training is one means to gain that competency.

In June of 2015, the Ohio Supreme Court enacted new rules of superintendence that required the local court to establish new rules on guardianship. The most radical change was the requirement that all guardians attend a guardianship training course.

The Guernsey County Probate Court worked throughout 2015 to establish a Family Guardianship course, and in 2016 it was implemented.

As a result, the probate court adopted Local Rule 66, which requires family guardians to attend a shortened local version of the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Guardianship Fundamentals Training Program.

This program was developed in conjunction with the Guernsey County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health and Recovery Board and Area Agency on Aging Region 9.

The training sessions are offered four times per year at various times with all of the sessions at the Guernsey County Board of Developmental Disabilities building on Southgate Road in Byesville. All family guardians must attend this program once during the year.

The initial basic course titled “Responsibilities and Duties of Guardians” will be offered for new guardians of family members and those who have not yet completed the mandatory training. This training will be offered twice during the year on the designated dates listed below.

In addition, courses will be held with topics of interest to guardians, which were created from suggestions and questionnaires that were completed at the trainings over the past three years. Those who have already completed the initial course may choose to attend one of the alternate topic sessions to satisfy their annual training requirements.

This year’s training topics and scheduled dates and times are as follows:

‒ March 20 — Responsibilities and Duties of Guardians at 1 p.m.; Medicaid Eligibility and Information at 2 p.m.

‒ June 12 — Stress Management for Caregivers at 6 p.m.

‒ Aug. 12 — Stable Account/Payee Information and Estate Planning at 1 p.m.

‒ Oct. 17 — Responsibilities and Duties of Guardians at 10 a.m.; Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease Information at 11 a.m.

This program assists the guardians in complying with the law, as well as helping them learn about the different resources that may be available to them for the benefit of their ward.

For more information about the Guardianship Program, or the rights and responsibilities of becoming a guardian, please contact the Guernsey County Probate Court at 740-432-9262. The Probate Court is located on the second floor of the Guernsey County Courthouse, 801 E. Wheeling Ave. in Cambridge.

Full Article & Source:
Guardianship program protects vulnerable citizens