The tragic circumstances that surrounded the life and death of the late multi-Grammy winner Whitney Houston, continue to plague those she left behind after her death in 2012. Most recently, the late-singer’s only child, Bobbie Kristina Brown, was found unconscious in a bathtub after an apparent suicide attempt.
Having suffered severe brain damage, the 22-year-old’s prognosis remains uncertain. A recent People Magazine article about the young Brown’s condition reveals that she likely suffered a cardio-pulmonary arrest and hypoxic ischemic brain injury. After spending several weeks in a medically-induced coma, Bobbi Kristina is said to now be in some sort of vegetative state.
As Houston’s only living child, Bobbi Kristina is heir to her late-mother’s $20 million estate. Recently, Bobbi Kristina’s father Bobby Brown and Aunt Pat Houston went to probate court seeking to be named her legal guardians. The court ruled to appoint both Brown and Houston as co-guardians for the 22-year-old meaning that both will have equal say in providing and ensuring for matters related to her everyday care and medical needs.
The probate court also named an attorney to act in the fiduciary capacity as Bobbie Kristina’s conservator. This means the named attorney will have the legal right to manage and make financial decisions related to the young woman’s sizable estate.
In cases dealing with incapacitated adults, loved ones may seek to gain guardianship and conservatorship rights. In order for a probate court to legally name a guardian or conservator, an individual must be deemed as physically or mentally incapacitated. For this reason, estate matters dealing with both guardianships and conservatorships can be highly emotional and, at times, contentious and it’s wise to have a legal advocate on one’s side.
Source: Wealth Management, “Conservatorship, Guardianship, What’s the Diff?,” May 20, 2015
Additional resources provided by the author
For more information, please contact estate planning attorney Regina Kiperman:
Phone: 917-261-4514
Email: rkiperman@rklawny.com
Or visit her at her new location:
80 Maiden Lane
Suite 304
New York, NY 10038
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