![]() By: Dan Roberts – Publisher & Editor Her name is April Parks and she is the "poster child" why the Nevada guardianship laws must be changed. Her M.O. as a private for-profit guardian is to do everything possible in separating family and squeezing every last dime from her acquired "ward.” Although her actions are disgraceful, they are perfectly legal. She must be stopped - since you, or your loved one might be her next victim. Over the past few months, The Vegas Voice has reviewed and investigated this obscene (but very lucrative) guardianship industry. During this time, political editor Rana Goodman and yours truly have met with families torn apart by these private guardians - starting with Ms. Parks. ![]() We spent countless hours reviewing petitions, observing court hearings and listening "off the record” to people inside this guardian cesspool. Most heart-wrenching was our meetings with those pleading and begging us to help them regain control of their lives and/or to be reunited with their families. I have said it before and will continue to repeat it until the Nevada Legislature revises the guardianship statutes (NRS 159): Having a private guardian appointed for a senior is like selecting a child molester to run a day care center. It is financial exploitation and abuse, and private guardian April Parks is "Exhibit A." Through her connections with various home health agencies, caregivers and even hospitals, she hunts for seniors who are unable to protect themselves. Like a vulture circling its prey, she has an uncanny knack of finding those that have money. She is also quite capable of quickly petitioning the Family Court for "temporary" guardianship. And armed with a Physician's Certificate that is nothing more than a "fill in the box" form, she is appointed guardian without the senior/proposed ward being in court, or even being aware of the legal proceedings. In reality, the senior (and family) never knew "what hit him." Armed with such court order, April Parks simply commands them to come with her. Their life as he/she knew it is over - and the nightmare begins. As the court approved guardian, along with threats of "calling the police", she is legally able to keep relatives apart and, with the assistance of the Nevada Guardianship laws, prohibit family members from interfering with her. While The Vegas Voice is more than willing to highlight how private guardians (and especially Ms. Parks) perverts the system to their financial gain (by the way, did you know that she is never wrong? Her lack of disclosing all of the ward's assets and/or failing to file the legally required "annual accounting" of where all the money went are merely "oversights" or "errors") we think it is more important to look to the future - and to end this shameful system. As I advised last month, this issue is now before the Nevada Legislature. Thankfully, it appears that both the Senate and the Assembly have stepped up, listened to us (as well as your 3,500+ petitions) and said "enough is enough." Senate bill 262 sponsored by Senators Becky Harris, Patricia Farley, Mo Denis, Pete Goicoechea, Don Gustavson, Mark Manendo, Tick Segerblom and James Settelmeyer (and co-sponsored by Assemblymen Lynn Stewart, Ervin Nelson, Stephen Silkerkraus and Melissa Woodbury) is a bi-partisan measure that, in essence, will strike the prohibition of non-Nevada residents (i. e. your adult children) to serve as guardians. More importantly, SB 262 provides that the courts "shall give preference to a nominated person or relative..." over the private guardians. At the very least, the idea that a stranger (private guardian) can legally take over a senior’s life and grab all their financial assets; while keeping the family relatives away, would be eliminated. Additionally Assembly Bill 325 sponsored by Assemblymen Michael Sprinkle, Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Melissa Woodbury is another bi-partisan propose law that would license private guardians, require them to be bonded and provide a recourse for families who have been victimized by their wrongful actions. Think about this - your attorney is licensed, as is your accountant, as well as real estate agents. Even your barber and manicurist must be licensed. But private guardians, who maintain, manage, have sole control and spend (your) hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars - including bank accounts, pensions, Social Security payments, trust accounts (and even the right to sell your home for pennies on the dollar) can do what they please without state oversight. Be assured that with my Rana on her “Don(na) Quixote” crusade (and as her faithful squire) The Vegas Voice will continue to follow-up on this issue. And by the time you read this, we will have submitted your petitions, testified before the various Nevada legislative committees, travel back to Carson City and do whatever we can to have these bills passed into law. As for private guardian April Parks? I have no doubt that through her attorney, she will (once again) explain to the hearing master her "minor mistakes and simple errors" as to where all the money went. But if you believe in "right-or-wrong", there surely will be a special place in hell for her when she appears before the "ultimate court."
25 Comments
Karla
4/12/2015 02:06:47 pm
Thank you for not mincing words in this expose - you are RIGHT ON THE MARK as concerns Ms. Parks - while her actions are some of the more egregious, she is not alone in the "cesspool of guardianship" that floats through Clark County. Your work in lobbying for the passage of both bills referenced within your story may be some of the most far-reaching that your paper will undertake - THANK YOU!!!!!
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C
4/28/2015 12:37:42 pm
I bet you don't even know about her past or even a little bit about her you my "friend" no nothing you are jealous spoiled little no good for anything little brat
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karla
4/28/2015 11:54:14 pm
April Parks's "past" is coming to light via a recent meeting held by the Clark County Commissioners to hear evidence as regards "wrongdoings" by her and others within the Guardianship Program. At this hearing a Metro Detective also testified - there is an ongoing investigation - perhpas you would like to contact these officials as regards your misconceptions.
Tracy Callahan
4/15/2015 01:39:46 pm
Way to go!! I have experienced April, first hand as people under her wicked ways are crying, screaming for help, and feeling, just as you expressed in your article. I beg of you to keep this nightmare alive so people can hear it and we can hope that she will get caught and justice and dignity will win over evil.
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C
4/22/2015 09:31:37 am
You people are awful why would you say anything like that
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Karla
4/22/2015 10:54:55 am
We say it because it is TRUE... we have experienced the greed and lack ofcompassion of April Parks first hand... Yesterday's Commissioner Meeting said it all - the "criminals" operating with wild abandon in Family Court in Clark County are "little gods"... not for long - justice WILL BE SERVED!
C
4/28/2015 12:39:33 pm
Wow how would you like it if someone talked bad about you like that because none of this is true as this article so I suggest stop posting all these mean comments about how she's done this and that with your relative and get a life retard
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karla
4/28/2015 11:51:12 pm
Folks who have no FACTS to support their position rely on personal assaults in an attempt to distract.... fortunately, this childish tactic holds no sway with the educated/informed - please review the case files (open to the public at the Family Court building, M-F, 8-4) and bring some factual evidence.
Doug
1/16/2016 06:52:17 pm
Where does this monster live?
karla
1/16/2016 07:58:19 pm
Doug - April Parks is currently living in Boulder City, NV where she continues, with court approval, to victimize people/their families/ their property. Most recently she withdrew from a Guardianship that she helf for over two years because "the heat was being turned up" on this one in particular. Even though she failed to provide a final accounting of the Estate AS REQUIRED BY LAW, the Court, she was not found guilty of any wrongdoing - instead, she was given 60 days to present this accounting to the Court. Over and over again the Clark County Family Court System refuses to hold Guardians accountable for their actions (including criminal prosecution for violations of law) and allows them to trample over laws that were put in place to prevent this type financial abuse.
C
4/22/2015 09:30:55 am
That is not a true article she is agree person -c
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Karla
4/22/2015 11:20:02 am
You are either a relative or employee of April Parks, or in deep denial of the facts - facts which are irrefutable and will be forthcoming when the Clark County Commissioners delve more deeply into her activities and those of her "partners in crime".
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C
4/28/2015 12:35:47 pm
Your still stupid why do yup believe these people there such phonys
Ellen
6/13/2015 02:42:08 am
Karla, thank you for posting all your information. Please keep us informed.
Kelley Quattro
4/27/2015 01:30:22 am
Had a similar (terrible) experience with April Parks. She took over as guardian a dear and very close family friends' life. She preceded to have her institutionalized, alienated from her only daughter and close friends (literally having one banned form visiting her) who had previously helped to care for her, sold her home and all of her belongings (some very valuable), literally leaving her with two framed photographs (of herself and her late husband). Even her clothing was sold in an auction, leaving her with donated, ill-fitting scant clothing.
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Karla
4/27/2015 09:50:56 pm
Kelly:
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Rana
5/4/2015 05:34:32 am
Kelly, Karla:
Kathy Davis
10/21/2017 02:02:41 pm
Why hasn't April Parks been sued in court for being a 'thief'?
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H
4/28/2015 12:34:39 pm
Wow the Vegas voice is such a phony they tell people what they want to hear not what is the truth but what is a lie they didn't spend any time looking at court hearings our files because they don't even have acess to it
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k
4/28/2015 11:48:32 pm
H - it appears that you are the one that is "uninformed"; case files/cour records, unless sealed, are a matter of public record and open for ANYONE to view... and we have... and that is why we can make these statements. Educate yourself!
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C
4/29/2015 05:04:32 am
no you educate yourself by sticking your fathead that is stuffed with lies and stop posting mean commentd
Rana Goodman
5/4/2015 05:28:47 am
H, the Vegas Voice writers on the topic, Dan Roberts and I, have spent countless hours at the Family Court going through the court records. They are available, they ARE public records. All you have to do is go to the library and request the files, one by one and spend your days reading each file you need. Anyone has access, do your homework before you write about things your don't know.
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Rana
5/4/2015 05:37:35 am
C this is a warning, disrespectful comments will be taken down. Tone down your writing please.
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karla
6/13/2015 03:26:05 am
April Parks is being investigated by the Boulder City Police... hmmm... http://www.scrippsmedia.com/ktnv/news/contact-13/contact-13-investigates/Family-free-at-last-from-guardianship-307192821.html
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rosemary walker
4/14/2016 06:54:50 pm
Just wondering where Ms. Park stands today and if she is still practicing. I read the storys and they scare me to death. I was one of the luck ones you might say. Ms. Park did ok by me with my uncle. But I showed up and took over bills and bank accounts. I called everytime I thought something was wrong and did not like the lawyer she worked with at all
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