Less than a month before Baltimore police fatally shot a 70-year-old West Baltimore woman who was experiencing a mental health crisis, one of her family members began the legal process to take over her medical and financial decisions — only to be stymied when the court denied his request to waive a filing fee.
Court records show that the woman, Pytorcarcha Brooks, was the subject of a guardianship proceeding that began on May 30 in Baltimore City Circuit Court. The case never proceeded any further, however, after a judge declined to waive a $165 fee required to file the petition for guardianship.
Guardianship is the legal process where a judge appoints a person to make decisions for an adult who cannot care for themselves because of an illness or disability. It is commonly used for elderly relatives and adults with disabilities, and can allow another person to make medical or financial decisions for the adult, depending on what type of guardianship petition is filed…