ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex Vicinage is seeking volunteers for the Judiciary’s Guardianship Monitoring Program. The New Jersey Judiciary Guardianship Monitoring Program is a comprehensive statewide volunteer-based court program established to monitor guardians appointed to handle the affairs of incapacitated individuals.
Volunteers are needed to help ensure that incapacitated adults under court-authorized guardianships are treated with dignity and respect. Program volunteers are vital to achieving both court oversight and protection of incapacitated adults, while also assisting guardians in their sometimes difficult role.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced the program in January 2013, saying, “We need a host of volunteers to help ensure that individuals who cannot take care of themselves are not taken advantage of by others. Please step forward to help us achieve that noble aim.”
Volunteers spend six to 12 hours each month working in the county surrogate’s office during business hours. They help establish a statewide guardianship system and review documents from guardians regarding the physical and/or financial well-being of the adult deemed incapacitated by the court.
Volunteers must be comfortable using computers and should have some experience and/or interest in reading and understanding legal and/or financial documents. Individuals who are able to focus and capture pertinent details of filings and integrate these into the court software; or people with a background or experience in accounting, budgeting, finance, or other related areas are encouraged to apply. Training is provided.
GMP volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and must agree to comply with the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Volunteers. They are asked to commit to serve for at least one year. Candidates will be interviewed for details about their experience and background. Selected candidates will be fingerprinted and must satisfactorily pass a criminal history background check.
Interested candidates can access the volunteer application at njcourts.gov. The completed application should be submitted to the address listed for the vicinage at njcourts.gov.
Questions can be sent to njguardianship.mailbox@njcourts.gov.
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