Legacy Matters

Joan Kennedy battles her children

Joan Kennedy is not very pleased with her children who became her legal guardians last year to see that she received treatment for alcoholism and to take care of her financial affairs.  In retaliation, she put up for sale her summer house on Squaw Island for $6.5 million.  Her children object to the sale and it is unlikely the house will be sold given the cloud on the title.

The battle of children to retain control over one or another parent or elderly relative is on the rise with no end in sight.  Half the guardianship cases heard in Barnstable Family and Probate Court were filed by family or friends seeking control over another adult's life according to the Cape Cod Times.

The most difficult cases where the prospective ward contests the proposed guardianship usually involve  substance abuse  - drugs or alcohol.  I have nothing but sympathy for these families dealing with such difficult issues; however, I can not help but believe that advance planning in the form of a durable power of attorney would have saved these families a lot of grief.