The Joint Task Force will have the honor of welcoming back to our group Cook County Circuit Court Judge Susan Kennedy Sullivan who sits in Probate Court. Join us for what promises to be an engaging presentation and dialogue.

What kinds of matters does Judge Kennedy hear and resolve as a Probate Court Judge?  First, the word ‘probate’ may conjure up Wills, but it’s much more: the court also deals with a child or person’s life, money, health, conflicts and death.  On any given day in her Courtroom, she may be called upon to address any one or more of the following challenges:

1. Why is he/she/they subjects of a guardianship proceeding and who opened this estate? (adult or minor)
2. Does an agent under Power of Attorney trump the guardianship proceeding?  Does a grandparent trump a parent if a petition for minor guardianship is filed?
3. Has the court protected due process -- from beginning to end?
4. How does the court determine the adult subject’s level of competence to understand the proceeding?
5. If a person is found disabled under the Probate Act, what are that person’s on-going due process rights? If a non-parent is given guardianship of a minor, are there on-going due process rights for the parent(s)?
6. What is the nexus between a mental health diagnosis and guardianship?
7. What is the nexus between guardianship and a decedent’s estate?
8. How are family conflicts or exploitation or neglect handled?
9. How much does the court get involved in day-to-day care of someone under guardianship? Who pays? 

Julia Williams of Williams Law will serve as moderator for our discussion with Judge Kennedy.