Chester County lawyer Samuel C. Stretton. Courtesy photo Chester County lawyer Samuel C. Stretton. Courtesy photo

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The guardianship system in Pennsylvania needs to be reexamined.

I was recently involved in an estate case where there was a guardian but there was no counsel appointed for the supposed disabled person. Though judges were approving the guardian's fee, the needs of the person did not seem to be met and relatives were not allowed to see the person. Is there a problem with guardianships in Pennsylvania?

Unfortunately, some observers at least, believe that the guardianship system is broken and not properly monitored by the judiciary. Guardianship appointments can be big business with at times local lawyers being appointed and professional guardians or corporations that do guardianship work. The fees of some of these guardians can be substantial.