David Cassidy’s Estate Plans and Dementia

On November 23, 2017, The New York Post reported that David Cassidy, best known for his role on the 1970’s show ” The Partridge Family”, had struggled with dementia. According to the article, “more than 47 million people worldwide have dementia, with about 10 million new cases every year. The number of people with dementia is expected to rise to 75 million in 2030 and 132 million by 2050, according to the World Health Organization.” 

West Palm Beach probate and guardianship lawyers frequently encounter cases involving people with dementia. Family members sometimes file incapacity proceedings in an attempt to help a person who is no longer able to care for themselves. Guardianships can be very beneficial IF the right person, with the best interest of the incapacitated person in mind, is the guardian. Sometimes, probate litigators encounter instances where an incapacitated person, or ward, is being taken advantage of by his or her guardian. Is there a way to avoid a Florida guardianship altogether? You may be able to avoid a guardianship, in Florida, if you have a proper estate plan in place. Did Cassidy have a designated health proxy in his estate plan? Did he have an estate plan drafted by a Fort Lauderdale estate planning lawyer? An estate plan is important for when you pass away, but it can also be very beneficial to you while you are still living. To read about Cassidy’s unfortunate death, and his struggle with dementia, click here.