Disability Law Primer (PDF) - ARCH Disability Law Centre

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 3

II. SUBSTITUTE DECISION MAKING ........................................................................... 4

A. Appointing a Substitute Decision Maker ............................................................ 5
B. Powers of Attorney for Property and Personal Care ......................................... 5
C. Guardians of Property and of the Person........................................................... 8

1. Guardians of Property ........................................................................................ 9


2. Guardians of the Person .................................................................................. 13


3. Powers, Duties and Obligations of Guardians ................................................. 13


4. Qualification of Guardians ................................................................................ 17
   D. Does the Client Have an Attorney or Guardian? .............................................. 17
   III. Can A Person Under Guardianship Instruct Counsel? ....................................... 18
   A. Ethical Issues Related to Determining Capacity to Instruct .............................. 20
   B. Communicating with Guardians ....................................................................... 22
   IV. PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF CLIENTS SUBJECT TO A
   GUARDIANSHIP ..................................................................................................... 24
   A. Dealing with Concerns of Clients without Terminating Guardianship ............... 24


5. Office of Public Guardian and Trustee is Statutory Guardian of
   Property ........................................................................................................... 25


6. Statutory Guardians (other than PGT) ............................................................. 26


7. Court Appointed Guardians ............................................................................. 27
   B. Terminating a Guardianship ............................................................................. 30


8. Removing a Statutory Guardian (PGT or Other) .............................................. 30


9. Terminating a Court Appointed Guardianship .................................................. 32
   V. CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS .................................................................................. 37
   A. Who Should Prepare Assessment ................................................................... 39
   B. Who Pays for Assessment ............................................................................... 40
   C. Preparing a Client for an Assessment ............................................................. 41
   D. Rights Advice ................................................................................................... 42
   VI. CONCLUSION: OTHER ISSUES ............................................................................ 42
   A. Reasserting Autonomy..................................................................................... 42
   B. Future Instances of Incapacity ......................................................................... 43