Frequently asked questions

What is a professional fiduciary?

Someone legally accountable for another person's money and affairs, held to the highest standard the law has. We serve as power-of-attorney agent, conservator, and personal representative.

Are you a medical power of attorney? Do you make healthcare decisions?

No. Angelcare is a financial fiduciary. We manage money, bills, property, benefits, and court accountings. We do not serve as a medical power of attorney (MDPOA), and we do not make healthcare or treatment decisions. We help clients find the right medical power of attorney or guardian, or work with the one they already have, and we coordinate with them.

What don't you do?

We don't provide home care, nursing, or hospice, and we don't act as anyone's medical power of attorney. We help with Medicaid applications, but Medicaid planning is an elder-law attorney's job. When you need one of these, we'll point you to someone we trust.

When do people call Angelcare?

When someone can't keep up with money and paperwork anymore, or would rather hand it to a professional. Many of our clients have no family nearby. The call might come from the person, a relative, or a professional who knows them: an attorney, a financial advisor, a hospital social worker, or their care facility.

How is a conservator different from a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is chosen voluntarily by someone who still has capacity to make their own decisions. A conservator is appointed by a court when someone no longer does. We serve in both roles.

What is the difference between a guardian and a conservator in Colorado?

In Colorado a conservator is appointed by the probate court to manage a person's finances and property. A guardian is appointed to make personal and healthcare decisions. Angelcare serves as conservator, the financial role. When a guardian is also needed, we help find the right one, or work with the one already appointed.

Are you licensed? Who checks your work?

Colorado doesn't license professional fiduciaries, but the law holds us to strict duties in every role we serve.

As power-of-attorney agent, the Colorado Uniform Power of Attorney Act requires us to act in good faith and in the client's best interest, avoid conflicts of interest, and keep a record of every receipt, payment, and transaction (C.R.S. 15-14-714). If the client, a court, or Adult Protective Services asks for that record, we must produce it, generally within 30 days. A spouse, child, or other close relative can ask a court to review what we've done (15-14-716), and an agent who breaks these duties must personally repay the losses (15-14-717).

As conservator, a judge appoints us, and we're held to the same standard of care as a trustee. We must file an inventory and a financial plan within 90 days and a full accounting every year (15-14-418 to 420).

As personal representative, we're held to that same trustee standard and must settle the estate as the will and the law direct, as efficiently as the estate's best interests allow (15-12-703). Within three months we prepare a full inventory of the estate, and anyone with an interest in it can ask for a copy (15-12-706).

In every role, taking money from someone 70 or older while in a position of trust is a felony in Colorado (18-6.5-103). And if we ever find a problem, you'll hear it from us first.

What does it cost?

We bill by the hour, in six-minute increments, for the time the work takes, and we share our financial policy up front. The first conversation is complimentary.

Do you work with our existing attorney, CPA, or financial advisor?

Yes, gladly. We work alongside the attorney, CPA, financial advisor, or medical power of attorney a client already has, and bring in people we trust when something's missing.

What areas do you serve?

We focus on the Denver metro area, including Arvada, Denver, Lakewood, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Broomfield, Thornton, and Littleton, and serve clients across Colorado on a case-by-case basis.