Ohio Issues New Guardianship Rules

The Supreme Court issued extensive new rules affecting both existing and newly appointed guardians in Ohio that are responsible for the food, health care, housing, and other necessities of a person deemed “fully or partially incapable” of providing these necessities for himself or herself, that were effective on June 1, 2015.

Highlights of the changes include that guardians must:

• Attend a six-hour course on the fundamentals of guardianship, with the content of the training set by the new rule;
• Complete a three-hour continuing education program approved by the Supreme Court and provide  documentation of compliance on or before January 1 annually;
• Have a criminal background check;
• File an annual guardianship plan with the Probate Court that state the guardian’s goals for meeting the person’s personal and financial needs;
• Participate in “person centered planning,” that requires guardians to focus on the needs and wishes of the person and to strive to balance the person’s maximum independence and self-reliance with their best; and,
• Meet with the people they support at least quarterly, communicate privately, assess the person’s needs, and document their observations.

In addition, courts must establish a process to receive and store comments and complaints made on the performance of guardians.

FMI:  Read the entire rule at http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ruleamendments/documents/Adult%20Guardianships%20%28FINAL%29.pdf.