Office of the Public Guardian Who, What, When, Where, How, Why

Guardian of last resort of disabled adults with estates greater than $25,000 Attorney and guardian ad litem of children in cases in the child protection division Child’s representative in domestic relations/ parentage Other cool stuff

Former Cook County Public Guardians Mary BartelmePatrick T. Murphy

Robert F. Harris Public Guradian

Juvenile Court69 W Washington

Disabled Adults mental deterioration or physical incapacity/not fully able to manage person or estate, or mental illness or developmental disability /not fully able to manage his or her person or estate,or gambling, idleness, debauchery or excessive use of intoxicants/ so spends or wastes his or her estate/expose person with disability or dependents to want or suffering diagnosed with FAS 755 ILCS 5/11a-2

Public Guardian ▫Guardian of last resort for disabled adults with estates greater than $25,000 ▫ State guardian handles those with estates with less than $25, 000 ▫755 ILCS 13-5 ▫20 ILCS 3955/30

Some numbers 800 wards 80 intake investigations per month/33% involve financial exploitation-recovered $33 million in 8 years ▫70% over the age of 65 ▫ 49% dementia, Alzheimer 's disease or other mental (organic) degenerative disease ▫ 31% severe mental illness ▫ 12% developmental disabilities ▫ 3% traumatic brain injury; ▫6% stroke-related brain damage, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, Asperger syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabling conditions

Domestic Relations Attorney GAL Child’s Rep Intake: ▫One party represented by counsel ▫Mediation failed ▫Cook County ▫750 ILCS 5/506

Appeals/Impact

Juvenile Appointed attorney and guardian ad litem in almost all abuse, neglect dependant cases in Cook County-over 6000 cases Guardian ad litem in some delinquency cases-around 30 ▫705 ILCS 405/1-5;2-17;5-610

Decision making Know your role Know your client and the situation Know the law NACC Recommendations ABA Standards Illinois Supreme Court Rule 900 et seq

Carol Casey Attorney supervisor Juvenile Division publicguardian.org