Maryland Courts Tackle the Challenge on Guardianship Reform

Maryland is among the several states putting serious energy into modernizing and reforming rules governing guardianships, with major new rules that took effect on January 1, 2018.  In Bifocal, the journal of the ABA Commission on Law and Aging, the Honorable Karen Murphy Jensen, who chaired a multidisciplinary workgroup tackling the state reforms, describes the process during an interview.  She notes the work ahead for many: 

Judge Jensen: These are big changes and courts, attorneys, and guardians need time to navigate them. Maryland’s circuit courts are not uniform and the changes will affect each court differently. Guardianship attorneys need to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and procedural changes. The orientation and training requirements add a step to the process that may overwhelm some prospective guardians and each individual court will have to respond to that reality. 

 

Along the way, the Workgroup consulted with and got feedback from judges, court staff, private attorneys, public agencies, and other service providers outside of the Workgroup. It was clear that the Workgroup would need to provide ongoing technical assistance and develop resources to help everyone navigate these changes once in effect. While sensitive to the impact on family guardians, we believe it is important for guardians to understand what is expected of them and know what tools are available upfront, and for courts to screen out those unable to take on the responsibility.

For more, read: Maryland Judicial Workgroup Spearheads Guardianship Reforms, Vol. 39, Issue 3, Bifocal.