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Thousands Lose Right to Vote Under ‘Incompetence’ Laws
By David Disponett on 04/04/2018 11:00 AM
Like many people with autism, Greg Demer is bright but has difficulty communicating. He has a passion for the history of military aircraft, but he can’t quite keep up a conversation with new people. When he meets someone, he’ll quote from movies or ask them about their favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
His mother, Linda Demer, worried that he wouldn’t be able to make com...
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ABLE Accounts fund disabled childrens’ futures
By David Disponett on 03/26/2018 11:13 AM
Children with special needs not only require considerable out-of-pocket medical and therapy expenses, if they aren’t able to live independently as adults, their families must financially prepare to support them for the rest of their lives.
However, when parents try to save for their disabled child’s short- and long-term expenses, they often jeopardize their ability to qualify for ...
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Developments in Guardianship Law and Increased Difficulty Establishing Guardianships
By David Disponett on 03/23/2018 11:00 AM
The last few years saw substantial changes and updates in the probate and estates realm, not the least of which was replacement of the prior Texas Probate Code with the Texas Estates Code. In guardianships, the most important changes directed an exploration of “less restrictive alternatives” to guardianship, making proving the necessity for a guardianship more difficult. Additionally...
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Guardianship and the Rights of Adulthood
By David Disponett on 03/21/2018 11:00 AM
With less then six months to his 18th birthday, the timetable I had laid out for myself had me picking up the phone and making the call to the lawyer.
Hi Patrick. It’s Mrs. Ali. Remember when we had met in November to discuss obtaining guardianship and conservatorship for D? You told me to call in March. Well, it’s March.
Our lawyer asked me to gather some paperwork, which I al...
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Abusive Probate Guardianship
By David Disponett on 03/19/2018 11:00 AM
The award-winning 2017 short documentary “Edith+Eddie” by Kartemquin Films and directed by Laura Checkoway follows the story of America’s oldest interracial couple whose love story is interrupted by a family feud and an administrative probate hearing. The movie highlights the loss of all human and constitutional rights as well as loss of all property rights once Edith is placed...
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Developments in Guardianship Law and Increased Difficulty Establishing Guardianships
By David Disponett on 03/12/2018 11:00 AM
The last few years saw substantial changes and updates in the probate and estates realm, not the least of which was replacement of the prior Texas Probate Code with the Texas Estates Code. In guardianships, the most important changes directed an exploration of “less restrictive alternatives” to guardianship, making proving the necessity for a guardianship more difficult. Additionally...
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Volunteer Guardianship One on One honoring volunteer
By David Disponett on 03/09/2018 11:00 AM
Please join Volunteer Guardianship One on One in honoring Robert J. Shanahan, Jr., Esq., who has been an active volunteer in the Hunterdon County community for the past 24 years.
Bob has helped shape the lives of Hunterdon County youth as a Boy Scout leader, starting as den leader in Cub Scouts, later becoming a scoutmaster, and now Scoutmaster Emeritus for B.S.A. Troop 121 in Clinton. Additi...
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Bill to Update Guardianship Laws Clears Senate Panel
By David Disponett on 03/05/2018 11:00 AM
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A bill aimed at easing the state's growing burden as guardian of vulnerable elderly and disabled people moved a step closer to clearing the legislature Wednesday.
The measure, which seeks to ease the strain by ensuring that more relatives take on guardianship roles, won unanimous approval from the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, without any changes.
...
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Change to guardianship laws necessary, families say
By David Disponett on 02/28/2018 11:00 AM
CHEYENNE – Jessica Delancy’s mother might as well be a stranger.
It has been nearly a decade since Delancy’s mother, struggling with mental health issues, grappling with addiction and working two jobs, dropped then-6-year-old Delancy off at her grandmother’s house in Cheyenne.
She hasn’t seen or heard from her since.
Now, Delancy is a straight-A student at ...
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Las Vegas police officer, April Parks, others indicted in guardianship case
By David Disponett on 02/26/2018 11:00 AM
A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department lieutenant was jailed Wednesday, Valentine's Day, caught up in a sweeping indictment involving elder exploitation. Contact 13 Darcy Spears continues her years-long expose on guardianship abuse with this heart- breaking case.
He was supposed to serve and protect but instead he's accused of felony crimes for using Clark County's ...
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Senate approves guardianship reform
By David Disponett on 02/23/2018 11:00 AM
The New Mexico Senate on Wednesday approved a two-pronged measure to provide “immediate relief” to those who have struggled for years with the abuses of a closed legal guardianship/conservator system, while creating the framework for a comprehensive system overhaul by 2020.
The unanimous vote, which sends the legislation to the House of Representatives, comes after what one senator ca...
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Indiana guardianship registry prevents exploitation
By David Disponett on 02/21/2018 11:00 AM
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A new online registry that aims to protect elderly people and others in Indiana from being financially exploited by their court-appointed guardians is now being used by courts in more than half of the state's counties.
The registry helps courts monitor guardianship cases, while providing limited public access to further help protect people who are unable to manage th...
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Relatives raising children because of abuse, neglect may get help from Kentucky program
on 02/19/2018 11:00 AM
TAYLOR MILL, Ky. – Pennie Tackett's granddaughter, Karma Jordan, has aspirations to one day be in the Olympics.
Tackett hopes revival of a state funding program may put Karma on a path toward potentially realizing that dream.
During his State of the Commonwealth address Jan. 16, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin spoke of initiating budget cuts in a number of areas. How...
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An Empowering Change in Legislation for Disabled Individuals
By David Disponett on 02/05/2018 11:00 AM
A new law, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2017, opens a door for individuals with disabilities—a door that’s been closed since 1993. When President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act (CCA) in late 2016, which, in part, authorizes the establishment of self-settled special needs trusts (SNTs), he corrected a longstanding oversight in existing federal legislation while simultaneously c...
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State adds more oversight to protect vulnerable citizens
By David Disponett on 02/02/2018 11:00 AM
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) - Thanks in part to a Contact 13 Investigation, the state is stepping up to help protect our most vulnerable residents.
Contact 13 Chief Investigator Darcy Spears has new information in her ongoing expose of a system that many say fails to protect those who need help the most.
Our series of reports prompted the Nevada Supreme Court to take a serious look at how t...
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This simple foster care bill could make life better for Arizona kids
By David Disponett on 01/31/2018 11:00 AM
Arizona’s lawmakers can help abused and neglected children by making a few simple changes to state law.
It’s about permanent guardianship.
Wait.
Don’t let your eyes glaze over just because it doesn’t sound exciting.
Kids don’t need exciting. They need solid. They need stable. They need family and a sense of belonging.
That’s what this is all about...
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Longer lives and special needs trusts
By David Disponett on 01/29/2018 11:00 AM
People in our region try to save throughout their lives. The struggle comes when those people who have saved experience long-term care needs, typically nursing home, assisted living or in-home care.
Often, Medicaid is the tool used to avoid having to pay out-of-pocket for long-term care. However, Medicaid eligibility means that a person must be almost completely impoverished.
As this colum...
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Deciding who will take care of your children if the worst happens
By David Disponett on 01/26/2018 11:00 AM
No one wants to think or talk about it, but choosing someone to look after your children if you die could be one of the most important decisions you make as a parent.
That question hit my husband and me hard one awful day a few years ago when my eldest brother died of a heart attack and hadn't left a will. He was survived by the mother of his two children. But that event, coupled with the...
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57 new Nevada laws in effect Monday
By David Disponett on 01/19/2018 11:00 AM
A total of 57 new laws took effect Monday January 1 including the Legislature's attempt to get a handle on the skyrocketing price of insulin and other diabetes treatment drugs.
Senate Bill 539 was strongly opposed by the drug and pharmacy representatives. It requires the state Health and Human Services Department compile a list of drugs essential to treat diabetes and the drugs on that li...
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Elder abuse surge in WA as greedy kids rip off vulnerable family
By David Disponett on 01/17/2018 11:30 AM
THE “hidden scourge” of elder abuse — physical, psychological and financial — is destroying the lives of thousands of older West Australians.
An estimated one in 20 of WA’s 350,000 seniors will have experienced violence, exploitation or neglect, often perpetrated by a trusted family member, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
The probe has shone a light on ...
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