HomeMy WebLinkAbout94-424 Orphans' IN THE MATTER OF : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JENNIFER BETHEL, : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
An Alleged Incompetent : ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION : NO. 21-94-424
: INCAPACITATED PERSON
IN RE: PETITION FOR GUARDIANSHIP
BEFORE OLER, J.
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this 26th day of May, 1994, upon
consideration of the Petition for Appointment of a Temporary
Guardian of the Person, and following a hearing held at the
Cumberland County Courthouse, at which the allegedly
incapacitated person was present, Jennifer Bethel is adjudicated
an incapacitated person, and her mother, Lee Bethel, is
appointed temporary partial guardian of her person for the
purpose of executing a "2176 Waiver,', effecting Ms. Bethel's
admission into a day-care program, and effecting Ms. Bethel,s
admission into a more permanent residential placement program,
if the guardian believes that such acts are in the best interest
of her daughter. This appointment shall expire following the
accomplishment of those services. No bond shall be required of
the guardian.
Notice is hereby given to Jennifer Bethel of her
right to appeal and to petition to modify or terminate the
guardianship.
By the Court,
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ROBERT L. O'BRIEN, ESQUIRE
Solicitor for the Cumberland/Perry MH/MR
Jennifer Bethel :lt
IN THE MATTER OF : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
JENNIFER BETHEL, : CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
An Alleged Incompetent : ORPHANS' COURT DIVISION : NO. 21-94-424
: INCAPACITATED PERSON
IN RE: PETITION FOR GUARDIANSHIP
BEFORE OLER, J.
OPINION and ORDER OF COURT
Oler, J.
At issue in the present case is whether Jennifer
Bethel should be adjudicated an incapacitated person and, if so,
whether her mother, Lee Bethel of Carlisle, Cumberland County
Pennsylvania, should be appointed temporary partial guardian of
her person. A hearing was held on the matter on Thursday, May
26, 1994, before the undersigned judge; the allegedly
incapacitated person was present for the hearing. Based upon
the evidence presented at the hearing, the following Findings of
Fact, Discussion and Order of Court are made and entered:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The allegedly incapacitated person is Jennifer
Bethel.
2. Petitioner is Robert L. O'Brien, Esquire,
solicitor for the Cumberland/Perry Mental Health/Mental
Retardation Office.
3. The allegedly incapacitated person, Jennifer
Bethel, suffers from mental retardation and cerebral palsy; she
is 21 years old and has had these conditions since birth.
4. As a result of the aforesaid conditions,
Ms. Bethel's ability to receive and evaluate information and
make and communicate decisions has been impaired to such a
significant extent that she is unable to meet essential
requirements for her physical health and safety in the form of
deciding whether to execute a "2176 Waiver" for purposes of
federal funding, and entering a day-care or more permanent
residential placement program in Cumberland County or elsewhere.
5. Guardianship services are necessary for
Ms. Bethel notwithstanding the personal assistance and support
which the Court is well aware she receives from her immediate
family.
6. Based upon the aforesaid condition of
Ms. Bethel and her lack of capacity to make and communicate
decisions in the regard mentioned, a temporary and partial
guardianship with respect to her person is required.
7. The duration of this guardianship will be
until the guardian has executed the necessary "2176 Waiver" and
secured Ms. Bethel's entrance into a day-care program and into a
more permanent residential placement program, if the guardian
feels that such measures are in the best interest of her
daughter.
8. Pursuant to 20 Pa. C.S.A. Section 5512.1(b),
it is found that Ms. Bethel is partially incapacitated and in
need of temporary partial guardian services of her person.
9. The mother of Ms. Bethel is a person
qualified under 20 Pa. C.S.A. Section 5511(f) to serve as such
guardian of her person.
10. The foregoing Findings of Fact are made on
the basis of clear and convincing evidence.
DISCUSSION
The provisions'respecting adjudication of incompetency
have recently been amended and are contained in 20 Pa. C.S.A.
Sections 5501 et seq. Petitioner has complied with these
provisions, and, based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact, the
following Order of Court will be entered:
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW this 26th day of May, 1994, upon consideration
of the Petition for Appointment of a Temporary Guardian of the
Person, and following a hearing held at the Cumberland County
Courthouse, at which the allegedly incapacitated person was
present, Jennifer Bethel is adjudicated an incapacitated person,
and her mother, Lee Bethel, is appointed temporary partial
guardian of her person for the purpose of executing a "2176
Waiver,', effecting Ms. Bethel's admission into a day-care
program, and effecting Ms. Bethel's admission into a more
permanent residential placement program, if the guardian
believes that such acts are in the best interest of her
daughter. This appointment shall expire following the
accomplishment of those services. No bond shall be required of
the guardian.
Notice is hereby given to Jennifer Bethel of her
right to appeal and to petition to modify or terminate the
guardianship.
By the Court,
Is/ J. Wesley Oler, Jr.
J.
ROBERT L. O'BRIEN, ESQUIRE
Solicitor for the Cumberland/Perry MH/MR
Jennifer Bethel
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