07-30-2013 - Part 1: Celebrity Series - Guardianship and Conservatorship (Amanda Bynes)

A "guardian" of an adult is a person appointed by the court who is responsible for the personal affairs of an incapacitated adult, including responsibility for making decisions regarding the adult's support, care, health, safety, habilitation, education, therapeutic treatment, and residence.  A "conservator" is also appointed by the court, and is responsible for managing the estate and financial affairs of an incapacitated person.  In some states, a "conservator" is called a "guardian of the estate" and the "regular" guardian is called the "guardian of the person."

When we think of legal guardianship or conservatorship, several scenarios typically come to mind: an elderly parent with dementia; an adult who has been severely injured and can no longer take care of himself; and, increasingly (especially for troubled celebrities), young adults who are making unsafe, dangerous, or destructive decisions - decisions that often involve alcohol or drug abuse, quite possibly along with an underlying mental illness. This latter category has made headlines in recent years thanks to celebrities such as Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and, most recently, Amanda Bynes.

via archive.aweber.com