Nevadans don’t need training to qualify for guardianship
Friday, July 23, 2004 | 4:53 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
July 24 - 25, 2004
Under Nevada law, any adult resident of the state whom Clark County Family Court finds suitable can serve as a guardian. The qualifications are so broad that last year the law was revised to allow even ex-felons to serve as guardians as long as their prior convictions had nothing to do with a felony "relating to the position of a guardian," such as through elderly abuse or embezzlement.
This provision was added to law because Family Court was running into situations where the most suitable guardian for children was a grandmother or other relative who had a marijuana conviction 20 years before.
The only other adults who may not serve as guardians are individuals who have been suspended for misconduct or disbarred from the practice of law, accounting or other professions that involve financial or real estate management.
Although the qualifications for guardians are broad, there are no requirements in Nevada that they undergo any training or continuing education. The Clark County Public Guardian's office conducts a free guardianship workshop on the third Thursday of each month in which participants receive certificates. But the workshop is not mandatory.
Florida and New York have taken the lead in this area by requiring professional and family guardians to go through training. It is an idea that Sally Hurme of Washington, D.C., chairwoman of the National Guardianship Foundation, believes should be applied nationally.
"Everybody needs training," Hurme said. "Family guardians need training possibly more than the professionals."
Training means credibility, said Peter Santini, president-elect of the National Guardianship Association in Tuscon, Ariz. He said it might be more problematic to require training for family guardians because they might not have the time or inclination to go through training.
But he said it should be required for professionals.
"Certainly those who are hanging up a shingle should have some continuing education so that they are accountable for what they do," Santini said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Ensign moves out of home on C Street
- Cada and Moon emerge as Main Event’s final two
- Fight snapshot: Reviewing “24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto,” episode 3
- Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton
- Cities, county find buying valley homes isn’t easy
- Motorcyclist dies in Summerlin crash
- Six people share their stories of what led them to jobs at CityCenter
- Two injured in shooting in central valley
- Buchanan was one of the city’s truly flamboyant characters
- Fight snapshot: Pacquiao is a hit with Jimmy Kimmel, and vice versa
Blogs
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Final Five have two routines each on Dancing With the Stars
The Coin Bucket
Blue Man Group at half price for locals
Elsewhere
Findlay Prep's Bradley fitting in at Texas (2 Comments)
Now and Then
I went to a hockey game and a New Mexico women's soccer match broke out (1 Comment)
Politics: The Early Line
Attention in D.C. focuses on health care proposals
Elsewhere
Fedor v. Rogers delivers solid ratings on CBS (5 Comments)
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
If you can rebuild the whole car, then why not allow an engine change? (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 9 Mon
- 10 Tue
- 11 Wed
- 12 Thu
- 13 Fri
-
Jo Dee Messina at the House of Blues
House of Blues | 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
The Revival Tour at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
DJ Tina T at Prive
Prive | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
The Automatic Tour at The Square Apple
The Square Apple
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati








