LANSING -- State Representative Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) today threw her support behind a package of bills that will prohibit a conservator from selling, mortgaging, or disposing of an individual's property without court approval. Several people gave testimony in support of the bills at a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday
"I'm glad that the Judiciary Committee has taken up this important legislation, and I hope to see it passed out of the House and signed into law as soon as possible," Scott said. "Sadly, this legislation comes 15 years too late for some of the senior residents in the city of Detroit who lost their homes and estates due to unscrupulous guardians and conservators, with the assistance of some deceitful lawyers and judges."
The bills will also require a guardian ad litem to report the amount of what is considered as "liquid assets" belonging to the individual to the court; grant a court discretion under certain circumstances to appoint a conservator, in addition to a guardian, upon a finding of legal incapacity; and require, with certain exceptions, a conservator to furnish a bond.
Testifying in support of the bills on Wednesday were officials from the Michigan AARP, the State Bar of Michigan and the Wayne County Probate Court, along with residents who have seen their family members lose everything at the hands of unprincipled conservators.
"These bills will provide additional protections for our most vulnerable residents -- those who have been incapacitated," Scott said. "We have to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves, and adding additional court oversight of funds entrusted to guardians will ensure that incapacitated residents will not be treated like second-class citizens."