1,209 — Questioning Mental Competency

You may still have a sound mind, but that’s not true of everybody. Learn how to talk about people’s mental abilities on this episode.
Slow dialog: 1:28
Explanations: 3:36
Fast dialog: 17:33
Claire: What are you doing with all those law books? I thought you retired 20 years ago.
Ray: I’m preparing for my mental competency hearing.
Claire: Mental competency hearing? But your mind is as sharp as it has ever been.
Ray: That’s not what my children think. They are going to court to prove my diminished capacity. They are going to argue that I need a conservator for my estate.
Claire: Nobody who knows you would question your sound mind. There must be another reason for this hearing.
Ray: You’re right. My children want to get their hands on my money, and if they can prove mental incapacitation and impaired judgment, they will get power of attorney.
Claire: And if they get power of attorney…
Ray: They would get control of my company and my entire estate.
Claire: So what are you going to do?
Ray: I am going to fight fire with fire. I’m suing them.
Claire: What for?
Ray: Fraud and I can make it stick. They’re both lacking in common sense. Everybody knows you should never sue an attorney, especially a successful one!

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse