Boxing Legend Thomas Hearns’ Guardianship & Conservatorship Provides Lessons For Families
Boxing legend Tommy Hearns is currently back in the public eye after a probate court judge placed him under both guardianship and conservatorship. After several hearings, the judge entered orders appointing Hearns’ son, Ronald Hearns, as both the guardian and conservator of his father. Prior to the judge’s decisions, there were various allegations between family members including financial exploitation, kidnapping, and whether or not Hearns actually needed help at all.
What is a Guardianship versus a Conservatorship?
A guardianship is a legal arrangement where a court appoints a person to make medical and personal decisions for someone who is no longer able to manage their own care. A conservatorship is similar but specifically applies to financial decisions, such as paying bills, managing assets, and handling investments. In some cases, a court may assign both roles to one individual, giving them full legal authority over both medical and financial matters, which is what was done in the case of Tommy Hearns.
Celebrity Cases Like Tommy Hearns, Britney Spears, Brian Wilson, & Wendy Williams Raise Awareness
The guardianship and conservatorship proceedings relating to Tommy Hearns raise basic questions about how the probate court process works, what a judge considers in these cases, and family fighting related to medical and financial decisions. While celebrities like Hearns, Britney Spears, Brian Wilson, and Wendy Williams all bring guardianships and conservatorships into the forefront, these proceedings are very common for families across the country. Legal expert and attorney, Danielle Mayoras, talked with CBS News about these questions and what families need to know when it comes to guardianships and conservatorships. A clip of the CBS interview is included here:
Legal Expert Danielle Mayoras Talks With CBS News About Guardianships and Conservatorships
Why These Cases Often Lead To Family Fights
Guardianship and conservatorship cases frequently lead to family conflict because they involve taking away a person’s legal rights. Disagreements often arise over money, medical care, and who should be in control. These fights are more prevalent in second and third marriage situations as well as families that have sibling rivalry and previously existing family tension.
How Probate Judges Decide Guardianship & Conservatorship Cases
Before appointing a guardian or conservator, a judge typically reviews:
Medical documentation and physician reports
Evidence showing the individual cannot manage their own affairs
Input from a court-appointed attorney (guardian ad litem), who interviews the individual and family members and reports back to the court
Where can you get more information on guardianships and conservatorships, celebrity legal tips, and legal help for you and your loved ones?
You can find more of Danielle legal tips as well as her analysis on celebrity legal issues with tips and lessons for you and your loved ones in her book,blog, tv segments, and website. You can also contact Danielle for legal help and information, a tv appearance, or speaking event here.
DISCLAIMER: Nothing should be relied on as legal advice. The information contained herein does not create an attorney/client relationship. The information posted is intended for general information purposes only. Laws vary state by state. Anyone seeking legal advice for a specific situation should consult a qualified attorney or similar qualified professional in the appropriate state.
Danielle Mayoras is an on-camera legal expert, attorney, author, and keynote speaker. As a respected media source, she has lent her expertise and analysis to hundreds of media sources, including The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, People, Forbes, Kiplinger, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, among many others. She has appeared on Access Hollywood, the Rachael Ray Show, The Insider, CNN, CNN International, NBC Nightly News, Forbes, The Hallmark Channel, ABC’s Live Well Network, CBS, FOX, PBS, and NBC affiliates. Danielle also serves as a legal analyst for CBS News Detroit.
In addition to co-authoring the best-selling book Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!, Danielle has been a contributor to Forbes and other outlets. Danielle has also appeared as a TV host and legal expert on multiple celebrity documentaries for the REELZ Channel. When not doing media, Danielle helps clients in her thriving law firm and serves as a keynote speaker delighting audiences across the country.
Danielle Mayoras is an on-camera legal expert, attorney, author, and keynote speaker. As a respected media source, she has lent her expertise and analysis to hundreds of media sources, including The Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, People, Forbes, Kiplinger, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, among many others. She has appeared on Access Hollywood, the Rachael Ray Show, The Insider, CNN, CNN International, NBC Nightly News, Forbes, The Hallmark Channel, ABC’s Live Well Network, CBS, FOX, PBS, and NBC affiliates. Danielle also serves as a legal analyst for CBS News Detroit.
In addition to co-authoring the best-selling book Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights!, Danielle has been a contributor to Forbes and other outlets. Danielle has also appeared as a TV host and legal expert on multiple celebrity documentaries for the REELZ Channel. When not doing media, Danielle helps clients in her thriving law firm and serves as a keynote speaker delighting audiences across the country.
