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County attorney briefs board on guardianship practice, warns of costs
Summary
Beltrami County’s county attorney explained the difference between guardianship and power of attorney, described why the county rarely serves as guardian, and said contracts with professional guardians and modest fees partially offset costs; staff reported about 24 county guardianships.
County Attorney (speaking at the work session) told the Beltrami County Board that guardianship and conservatorship are legally distinct from a power of attorney and that they give another person legal authority to make life and medical decisions for someone who has lost capacity. “It’s stronger than power of attorney,” the County Attorney said, adding that guardianship permits a court-appointed decision‑maker to act in place of the ward.
County staff described the county’s limited role in these cases and the operational and fiscal consequences. Health and Human Services staff said the county currently serves as guardian for about 24 wards and uses a contract with Lutheran Social Services for several cases; staff added they removed nine people from the county’s guardianship caseload over the last year. Staff also noted a small statutory fee the county charges for certain benefits (about $50 per month) and said most guardianships are private because county guardianship is time‑ and cost‑intensive. The board treated the presentation as informational; no vote or formal policy change was taken at the meeting.
