Major Guardianship Reform in Pennsylvania Strengthens Due Process and Oversight

Written by:  Offit Kurman

The law governing guardianship in Pennsylvania has recently seen its most meaningful update in years, truly emphasizing less-restrictive options and ensuring due process protections for adult individuals who may need guardianship over their person and financial affairs. The court may only act after clear and convincing evidence of incapacity and need, and if the person has not retained counsel, the court must appoint an attorney for the initial adjudication and any later proceeding, to modify or terminate the guardianship. Counsel’s role is client-directed advocacy (expressed wishes). Counsel must meet the client promptly and file a short certification of that meeting and counsel may not serve as guardian ad litem.

The General Assembly also codified a robust “least-restrictive alternative” test. A finding of incapacity alone does not justify a transfer of rights; the court must make on-the-record determinations that less-restrictive supports (e.g., supported decision-making, POA authority, representative payee, targeted services) will not suffice. In practice, your petition should document what was tried, by whom, when, and why it failed; otherwise limited relief (or no relief) is likely.

A major structural change is the automatic review hearing. If the evidence at the initial hearing indicates the person’s circumstances may change, the court must set a review date in the order and hold that review within one year; any interested person may also petition later to modify or terminate.

The statute now requires certification for high-volume individual appointees: before accepting a third active appointment, the individual must be certified (with the Supreme Court to prescribe rules, renewals, and proof), and courts may consider waiver requests for equivalent credentials.

Procedurally, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s December 18, 2024, amendments modernized forms and aligned practice with the statute. The practitioner will want to pull the newest packets before filing and calendar post-appointment reporting through the statewide Guardianship Tracking System (GTS).

Finally, remember that Pennsylvania policy favors tailored relief, and the court will seek the least restrictive means when evaluating an alleged incapacitated individual. Propose narrowly drawn powers, preserve rights wherever possible, and build a record showing why specific alternatives won’t meet the person’s needs. Courts and court resources now expressly highlight Supported Decision-Making as part of that analysis, so address it head-on in your petition and at hearing.

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Major Guardianship Reform in Pennsylvania Strengthens Due Process and Oversight