Emergency Guardianship hearing

Mikela · November 2021

We are prepping for a hearing. Looks like we may be subpoening someone to get a doctor to show up and having all friends and family fill out affidavits. Do more affidavits supporting your position help at all? I keep hearing such conflicting information so I guess I'm pretty ancy right now. Hearing is next Monday morning. I can honestly say I've done all I could. My Dad was always pretty astute and he still has moments of clarity. Unfortunately, while not in those moments, he and my ever clueless stepmother have ruined his credit, ruined his health from lack of adequate care, nearly lost his home, and been scammed for hundreds of thousands of dollars. I feel like right now we are pretty much throwing everything at him and my Dad is reacting like it is a challenge or game to overcome. He is used to being in hard-hitting negotiations with IRS agents and bigwigs. He always loves a good argument. Dad is bedridden and keeps looking to his wife for acknowledgement in his actions. I am so very frustrated. Stepmother has been limiting phone calls and physical access to Dad since last father's day at least for me. My brothers and I are set to speak with Dad's attorney ad litem in 2 days. He's already had trouble reaching Dad through his cell phone, because of stepmother. Honestly, if this works out I think the first thing I'd do would be to rekey the house so we can come and go as we used to as his family/children. He has since submitted a disqualification for all any of his children to serve as guardian to him in any capacity. I've fine with this, but I do know he probably shouldn't be spending the extra funds because he doesn't have them to spare. I did find out that stepmother and Dad sold one of 3 cars. Unfortunately, nobody thought to cancel the car insurance on the car they sold. They did try to pay property taxes 3 times last year. The check kept bouncing because a scammer started draining the bank account's funds every time there was a deposit from Dad's retirement. Nobody caught it for over 2 years. That is why stepmother isn't a good guardian. I caught it the first time I looked into the bank statements. She is a great homemaker and excellent cook. She takes care of him daily, but needs respite care for herself too. She acts the martyr, but has refused help in the form of home health aides etc. I can truthfully say we tried everything to avoid this situation. We offered up the idea of a trust and worked with her in tandem for several months before the need for control snapped. I am so very tired of this back and forth. I pray the judge is astute and decisive. I just want to be able to see my Dad again.

Mikela