COMPLEX FAMILY MATTERS IN GUARDIANSHIP Updated by DARLENE PAYNE SMITH SHARON B. GARDNER Presented by DARLENE PAYNE SMITH State Bar of Texas ADVANCED GUARDIANSHIP COURSE March 6, 2009 Houston CHAPTER 11 Special thanks to Sarah Patel Pacheco for use of portions of her Contested Guardianship and Peace Treaties speeches. SHARON BRAND GARDNER is a shareholder with Crain, Caton & James, P.C. in Houston, Texas. Ms. Gardner specializes in probate, trust, and guardianship law. She is Editor of the Texas Guardianship Manual published by the State Bar of Texas and a Co-Author of The Texas Probate Practice Series published by West Publishing. She is an adjunct professor teaching estate administration and guardianship at South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas. She is a Fellow of the American College of Probate and Trust Counsel. DARLENE PAYNE SMITH Crain, Caton & James, P.C. 1700 Five Houston Center Houston, Texas 77010-4035 713-752-8640 Email - [email protected] EDUCATION Bachelor of Science: Criminal Justice, University of Houston (Magna Cum Laude) Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Houston Law Center MEMBERSHIPS & CERTIFICATIONS Texas Bar Association; Houston Bar Association; Texas Bar Foundation; Probate Legislative Sub-Committee -- Houston; Past President –Women Attorneys in Tax and Probate; Former Vice President – Disability and Elder Law Lawyers Association; Planning Committee – Elder Law Section, State Bar; Planning Committee – Wills and Probate Institute; Elder Law Committee; Certified by the State Bar of Texas Pursuant to Texas Probate Code § 647A as Ad Litem PERSONAL Married – Michael David Smith; Three Children – Stephan, Coleman and Hallie; Hobbies - Singing, pistol shooting, tennis and squash. SPEAKER/AUTHOR Speaker: Estate Planning for the Cancer Patient. Speaker: Texas Young Lawyers Association, The Women’s Advocacy Project and Texas Lawyers Care. Author/Speaker: Texas College of Probate Judges (1991-94) - Head Injury. Speaker: Appeals, Mandamus & Recusal, Legislative Update, Advanced Directives. Author/Speaker: National College of Probate Judges, March 1993, Maui, Hawaii - The Ramification of Closed Head Injury. Speaker: Advanced Estate Planning and Probate - 1993, State Bar of Texas. Speaker: American Association for the Mentally Ill - 1993. 128 - 189117v2 000001/000128 Speaker: Texas Association of Legal Secretaries: Mock Trial; 1994. Co-Author/Speaker: State Bar of Texas: New Guardianship Laws in Texas. Topic: Show Cause, Contempt, Surcharge and Successor Actions; March 1994. Speaker: State Bar of Texas: Elder Law Institute. Topic: An Overview of Guardianships; 1994. Co-Author/ Speaker: State Bar of Texas; Wills and Probate Institute. Topic: Appeals, Mandamus and Recusal; 1992. Speaker: University of Houston: General Practice. Topic: “Money Saving Tips for Tomorrow Morning”; 1993, 1994. Co-Author/ Speaker: State Bar of Texas: Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course. Topic: Procedural and Evidentiary Overview for the Probate Litigator; 1993. Author/ Speaker: A.G. Edwards, Structured Settlement vs. 142 Trusts. Co-Author Speaker: New Guardianship Forms. Author/ Speaker: Texas College of Probate Judges Probate Seminar. Topic: Accounting, June 1994; Duties of the Attorney Ad Litem Under the Amendments to the Texas Probate Code Affecting Guardianships and Removal and Surcharge, April 1994. Author/ Speaker: Legislative Changes that Affect Probate Practitioners, Law Seminars, Inc. Speaker: Guardianship Administration and Alternatives - Texas Elder Law Seminar. Speaker: Tips from the Experts - Independent and Dependent Estates. Speaker: University of Houston-Downtown – Guest Lecturer - Business Law, 1992; University of Houston-Clear Lake – Guest Lecturer - Advanced Directives. Co-Author/Speaker: University of Houston, General Practice Institute – Winter. Topic: Alternatives to Probate; 1994. Co-Author/Speaker: University of Houston, General Practice Institute – Summer. Topic: Law Office Management for General Practitioners; 1994. Co-Author/Speaker: South Texas College of Law, Wills and Probate Institute. Topic: Structuring Family Settlement Agreements to Avoid Will contests; 1994. Speaker: State Bar of Texas 18th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course. Topic: Reformation and Construction Suits; June 1994. Author/Speaker: State Bar of Texas. Topic: Effect of Guardianships and Criminal Proceedings on Mental Health Hearings; March 1995. 128 - 189117v2 2 000001/000128 Complex Family Matters In Guardianship Chapter 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 II. PRE-LITIGATION ISSUES............................................................................................... 1 A. Designation of Guardian Before Need Arises........................................................ 1 1. Guardianship Utilization to Circumvent the Durable Power of Attorney 1 2. Utilization of the Designation to Disqualify............................................. 2 B. Use of Declaratory Judgments............................................................................... 2 1. What is a Declaratory Action?.................................................................. 2 a) Powers of Attorney ...................................................................... 2 b) Pre-Death Actions........................................................................ 2 C. Money for Minors.................................................................................................. 3 1. Registry of the Court ................................................................................ 3 2. UGMA/UTMA ......................................................................................... 3 III. AVOIDING GUARDIANSHIP OF THE PERSON........................................................... 3 A. Consent for Medical Treatment - Surrogate Decision Making.............................. 3 B. Surrogate Decision - Making for Mentally Retarded Persons ............................... 4 C. Implied Consent for Emergency Care.................................................................... 4 D. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care .......................................................... 5 1. Statutory Requirements............................................................................. 5 2. Witnesses .................................................................................................. 5 3. Execution .................................................................................................. 5 4. Disclosure Statement ................................................................................ 5 5. Agent’s Exercise of Authority .................................................................. 5 6. Basis for Treatment Decision.................................................................... 6 7. Objection by the Principal ........................................................................ 6 8. Revocation ................................................................................................ 6 E. The Texas Natural Death Act ................................................................................ 7 1. Written Directive to Physicians ................................................................ 7 2. Execution .................................................................................................. 7 3. Physician’s Notification............................................................................ 7 4. Guidance Use Upon Oral Directive .......................................................... 7 5. A Minor’s Directive.................................................................................. 7 6. Decision Making When No Directive Exists............................................ 8 7. Federal Counterpart .................................................................................. 8 F. School Admission Procedures ............................................................................... 8 G. Treatment of Chemically Dependent Persons - Commitment Statutes.................. 8 IV. ELDER ABUSE ISSUES ................................................................................................... 9 A. Payee Abuse........................................................................................................... 9 B. Facility Payee......................................................................................................... 9 C. Nursing Home Issues ............................................................................................. 9 1. Drug Risks ................................................................................................ 9 2. Rights of the Elderly................................................................................. 9 D. Runaway Court Appointees ................................................................................... 9 V. AVOIDING GUARDIANSHIP OF THE ESTATE ......................................................... 10 A. The Durable Power of Attorney........................................................................... 10 1. Statutory Form........................................................................................ 10 2. Ability to Make Gifts.............................................................................. 10 3. Springing Powers.................................................................................... 11 4. Third Party Protection............................................................................