Office of the Public Guardian Who, What, When, Where, How, Why

•Guardian of last resort of disabled adults with estates greater than $25,000

•Attorney and guardian ad litem of children in cases in the child protection division

•Child’s representative in domestic relations/ parentage

•Other cool stuff

Former Cook County Public GuardiansMary Bartelme Patrick T. Murphy

Robert F. HarrisPublic Guradian

• Juvenile Court • 69 W Washington

Disabled Adults

• mental deterioration or physical incapacity/not fully able to manage person or estate, or

• mental illness or developmental disability /not fully able to manage his or her person or estate,or

• gambling, idleness, debauchery or excessive use of intoxicants/ so spends or wastes his or her estate/expose person with disability or dependents to want or suffering

• diagnosed with FAS

• 755 ILCS 5/11a-2

•Public Guardian▫Guardian of last resort

for disabled adults with estates greater than $25,000

▫ State guardian handles those with estates with less than $25, 000

▫755 ILCS 13-5▫20 ILCS 3955/30

Some numbers• 800 wards• 80 intake investigations per month/33% involve

financial exploitation-recovered $33 million in 8 years▫70% over the age of 65▫ 49% dementia, Alzheimer 's disease or other mental

(organic) degenerative disease▫ 31% severe mental illness▫ 12% developmental disabilities▫ 3% traumatic brain injury; ▫6% stroke-related brain damage, multiple sclerosis,

brain tumor, Asperger syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabling conditions

Domestic Relations• Attorney• GAL • Child’s Rep

• Intake:▫ One party represented by

counsel▫ Mediation failed▫ Cook County

▫ 750 ILCS 5/506

Appeals/Impact

Juvenile• Appointed attorney and

guardian ad litem in almost all abuse, neglect dependant cases in Cook County-over 6000 cases

• Guardian ad litem in some delinquency cases-around 30

▫ 705 ILCS 405/1-5;2-17;5-610

Decision making• Know your role•Know your client and the situation•Know the law

•NACC Recommendations•ABA Standards• Illinois Supreme Court Rule 900 et seq

•Carol Casey•Attorney supervisor•Juvenile Division•312-433-5124•carol.casey@cookcountyil.gov

•publicguardian.org