Pennsylvania has implemented a Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), a new web-based system for guardians, court staff, Orphans’ Court clerks and judges to file, manage, track and submit reports. The system integrates statewide guardian information, thereby helping to protect Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens while streamlining and improving the guardianship filing process. Every little bit helps. One of the unstated benefits of making guardianship reporting easier, is that ease encourages filial and social caregivers to act as guardians.
Of course, a better plan is to adopt an estate plan incorporating "Aging in Place" strategies, appointing and empowering trusted caregivers (not corporate trustees -banks, financial advisers, or attorneys) and preventing court-appointed guardian control of assets. In addition to making it even easier for filial and social caregivers to act on your behalf, such planning makes court-appointed guardianship more difficult and less lucrative for those who might be interested primarily in financial gain. The National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse (NASGA) says it best; abusive guardianships have a distinctive pattern: Isolate- Medicate- Liquidate- Drain the Estate.
Guardianship reform helps, and should be encouraged and applauded. Planning, however, shouldn't wait.
Click here to read the original Facebook post.
Click here to proceed directly to the National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse Blog article.
No comments:
Post a Comment