February Pursuing Justice Newsletter
Partnership Improves Guardianship Application Process
For families caring for loved ones with complex disabilities or conditions related to aging, the process for establishing legal guardianship can be intimidating. By combining innovative technology with our Guardianship Resource Center, LASCO is redesigning the process to be more accessible and straightforward.
With a shift to online filing in the guardianship process, families without reliable internet or computer access struggle to complete the required paperwork, leading to delays, repeated trips to the courthouse, or giving up altogether. For some families, language barriers can further complicate the process.
LASCO is working with the Franklin County Probate Court to develop a web-based program that walks users through the guardianship application. The program presents questions in plain language and multiple languages, then uses the responses to generate the required legal documents. “Funded through a partnership with the Court, this combination of digital tools and in-person support is already revolutionizing the guardianship process by removing barriers and expanding access to justice. We hope this is just the beginning, with the potential for these innovations to extend into other areas of our work,” LASCO Managing Attorney Paul Bryson said.
When it’s fully launched, families will be able to complete court forms accurately and efficiently, without making several trips to the courthouse.
LASCO will continue to provide in-person support for those who need it. Once a month, attorneys meet with individuals seeking permission to make medical and personal decisions for loved ones unable to do so independently.
Many who seek help are parents of children with disabilities who have turned 18 or caregivers of older adults who have developed memory problems. Every month, LASCO helps at least six clients filing for guardianship.
“The probate court’s partnership with Legal Aid has been a resounding success,” said Administrative Magistrate Maureen C. Duffy. “By offering guardianship legal services, Legal Aid is providing peace of mind to guardians, who do the incredibly important, difficult, and mostly unpaid work of advocating for our mentally disabled Franklin County residents."
The Center offers consistent in-person guidance for those who cannot afford an attorney.
“That help makes a tremendous difference,” Duffy said. “Previously, our clerks would receive multiple phone calls from the same guardianship applicants, asking for assistance with filling out court forms,” she said. “Now, after just one referral to the Guardianship Resource Center, our employees report that they are not receiving follow-up questions from those they have referred to the clinic.”
