Richard Lambie has been a professional guardian in California for 18 years, managing 45 elderly wards and their trusts. His clients typically come through referrals from attorneys.
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“There is an underserved elderly population who have no family support system, either by choice or due to their own unique circumstance,” said Lambie.
Yet despite the growing demand for guardianship, families need to be wary of elder abuse, especially with regard to financial matters such as inheritance decisions. That's why families who secure guardians for their elderly relatives need to be sure the guardians are, like Lambie, associated with an accredited organization.
Lambie is one of some 600 guardians in California alone who are members of the state’s Professional Fiduciary Association of California, managing more than $8 billion in assets.
“We can only discipline guardians who are certified through our organization,” said Denise Calabrese, executive director with the Center for Guardianship Certification (CGC). “If they are not certified by CGC, we advise the complainant to go through the court system or the state’s guardianship office if one exists.”
Families who use an accredited guardian are also in greater control of the expense for these caretakers and financial fiduciaries. “In most states, guardian fees are approved by the court,” said Kim Grier, president with the National Guardianship Association in Atlanta. “Professional guardians can get paid from the estate of the individual they have been appointed to and public guardians are paid through public funds.
“There will always be a need for guardians, but it should only be for those persons who are truly incompetent, and that’s what guardianship law was created for in the first place,” said Elaine Renoire, president of the National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse in Indiana.
Full Article and Source:
To Prevent Elder Abuse Families Need to Use Certified Guardians![]()
Yet despite the growing demand for guardianship, families need to be wary of elder abuse, especially with regard to financial matters such as inheritance decisions. That's why families who secure guardians for their elderly relatives need to be sure the guardians are, like Lambie, associated with an accredited organization.
Lambie is one of some 600 guardians in California alone who are members of the state’s Professional Fiduciary Association of California, managing more than $8 billion in assets.
“We can only discipline guardians who are certified through our organization,” said Denise Calabrese, executive director with the Center for Guardianship Certification (CGC). “If they are not certified by CGC, we advise the complainant to go through the court system or the state’s guardianship office if one exists.”
Families who use an accredited guardian are also in greater control of the expense for these caretakers and financial fiduciaries. “In most states, guardian fees are approved by the court,” said Kim Grier, president with the National Guardianship Association in Atlanta. “Professional guardians can get paid from the estate of the individual they have been appointed to and public guardians are paid through public funds.
“There will always be a need for guardians, but it should only be for those persons who are truly incompetent, and that’s what guardianship law was created for in the first place,” said Elaine Renoire, president of the National Association to Stop Guardianship Abuse in Indiana.
Full Article and Source:
To Prevent Elder Abuse Families Need to Use Certified Guardians