Wendy Williams' Guardianship Case: A Cautionary Tale for North Carolina Families
The once-vibrant voice of daytime television now calls into radio shows pleading for freedom. Wendy Williams, the media personality who commanded millions of viewers with her signature "How you doin'?" catchphrase, has become the face of a growing national crisis: the potential for abuse within America's guardianship system.
Williams' case offers North Carolina families critical lessons about protecting autonomy, planning for incapacity, and understanding the profound implications of guardianship proceedings. Her story demonstrates how even wealthy, successful individuals can find themselves trapped in a system designed to protect but capable of profound overreach.
From Financial Protection to Total Control: How Wendy Williams Lost Her Freedom
In early 2022, Wells Fargo froze Williams' bank accounts and petitioned a New York court for temporary financial guardianship, claiming she was an "incapacitated person" and "victim of undue influence and financial exploitation." What began as a bank's concern about financial management has evolved into something far more restrictive.
Today, Williams lives in what she describes as a "memory unit" at a luxury assisted living facility, surrounded by residents in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. "I am not cognitively impaired, you know what I'm saying? But I feel like I'm in prison," the 60-year-old told "The Breakfast Club" hosts in January 2025. She reports spending her last three birthdays alone due to facility restrictions and has no access to the internet or ability to receive incoming calls from family.
The financial numbers paint a stark picture. Court filings reveal that Williams' guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, and her firm collected approximately $1.7 million in fees in 2024 alone. Meanwhile, Williams received just $82,000 for her participation in the controversial Lifetime documentary "Where Is Wendy Williams?" that aired in February 2024—a contract her guardian claims was signed while Williams was "clearly disheveled, not mentally present, and confused."
The Diagnosis Dispute: When Medical Labels Override Individual Rights
In February 2024, Williams' care team announced she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. Williams vehemently disputes this diagnosis. "Frontotemporal dementia? Uh, how dare you. And I'm not saying you, because I've been accused of having that," she said in a March 2025 interview.
This dispute highlights a critical issue in guardianship proceedings. As Brooklyn Law School assistant professor Sarah Lorr explains in a Marketplace interview, "judges are influenced by medical labels and driven out of fear to 'protect' the person subject to guardianship." She notes that "anything that sort of impinges upon or suggests that there is an imposition on cognition I think really raises alarms for judges."
The rush to "protect" based on diagnoses can lead to unnecessary restrictions on personal freedom, especially when alternative support systems might suffice.
North Carolina's Guardianship Framework: Understanding Your Rights
While Williams' case unfolds in New York, North Carolina families need to understand how our state's guardianship laws work. Under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 35A, an adult may be declared incompetent if they lack "sufficient capacity to manage [his or her] own affairs or to make or communicate important decisions concerning [his or her] person, family, or property whether the lack of capacity is due to mental illness, mental retardation, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism, inebriety, senility, disease, injury, or similar cause or condition."
Importantly, North Carolina law recognizes that "merely having a developmental disability or mental illness does not, by itself, render an adult incompetent. He or she must also lack capacity." The law also requires "clear, cogent, and convincing evidence" before appointing a guardian.
North Carolina offers several types of guardianship:
Guardian of the Person: Makes personal and healthcare decisions
Guardian of the Estate: Manages financial matters
General Guardian: Combines both roles
Limited Guardianship: Preserves some rights for the ward
The state encourages limited guardianships tailored to individual needs, recognizing that complete removal of rights should be a last resort.
The National Crisis: Lack of Data, Oversight, and Accountability
Williams' case exemplifies a broader national problem. According to investigative journalist Diane Dimond, who wrote "We're Here to Help: When Guardianship Goes Wrong," "an estimated 2 million people are presently living under the court's control."
Yet remarkably, we don't know the exact number. As a 2024 Justice in Aging report notes, "it is unclear even how many adults in the United States are currently under guardianship." This lack of data hampers reform efforts and makes it difficult to identify patterns of abuse or systemic failures.
The financial stakes are enormous. Professional guardians often charge attorney-level hourly rates for services that don't require legal expertise. In Williams' case, the $1.7 million annual fee represents resources that should support her but instead fund the very system she's fighting against.
Red Flags: When Protection Becomes Exploitation
Williams' case reveals several warning signs that families should recognize:
1. Isolation from Family and Support Systems
Williams reports being unable to receive calls from family and having limited visitation. Her niece describes her living situation: "a bed, a chair, a TV, a bathroom and she's looking out one window at buildings across the street. That's her life."
2. Financial Opacity
Despite being the subject of the guardianship, Williams struggled to obtain basic financial information. Court documents show it took 16 months for her to receive projections about her own trust income.
3. Excessive Professional Fees
The $1.7 million in annual guardianship fees represents a significant drain on resources meant to support Williams' care and lifestyle.
4. Restricted Communication
Williams cannot freely communicate with the outside world, lacking internet access and unable to receive incoming calls—restrictions more severe than many criminal sentences.
5. Dismissal of Capacity
Despite Williams' ability to conduct coherent interviews and express clear preferences about her life, the guardianship continues based on disputed medical diagnoses.
Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones: Alternatives to Guardianship
North Carolina law favors less restrictive alternatives to guardianship. Every family should consider these protective measures:
Advance Directives
Durable Power of Attorney: Designates someone to handle financial matters if you become incapacitated
Healthcare Power of Attorney: Appoints someone to make medical decisions
Living Will: Specifies your wishes for end-of-life care
Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment: Provides instructions for mental health care preferences
Supported Decision-Making
This emerging alternative allows individuals to retain their rights while receiving assistance with decisions. Unlike guardianship, it preserves autonomy while providing needed support.
Trusts with Protective Provisions
Well-drafted trusts can provide financial management without court intervention. Consider including:
Disability panels to determine incapacity
Trust protectors to oversee trustees
Clear succession plans for trustees
Specific instructions for care preferences
Regular Review and Communication
Update documents every 3-5 years or after major life changes
Discuss your wishes with family members
Consider recording a video explaining your choices
Maintain relationships with multiple trusted advisors
What Every North Carolina Family Should Know
The Process Moves Quickly
Once guardianship proceedings begin, you may have limited time to respond. In North Carolina, the sheriff serves copies of the petition and notice of the hearing to the Respondent, and hearings can be scheduled relatively quickly.
You Have Rights
Every alleged incompetent person in North Carolina has the right to:
Be represented by an attorney
Request a jury trial on the issue of competence
Present evidence and witnesses
Appeal the decision
Family Dynamics Matter
The court doesn't automatically appoint the person who files the petition. Judges have broad discretion in selecting guardians, and family conflicts can lead to appointment of professional guardians instead of family members.
The Human Cost: Beyond Financial Implications
Williams' story reminds us that guardianship affects more than finances. "I am exhausted thinking about, what if I can't see my dad for his birthday? At 94, the day after that is not promised," Williams said tearfully in a January 2025 interview.
For someone who built an empire on connection and communication, the isolation is particularly cruel. This human cost—the loss of autonomy, dignity, and family connection—often exceeds any financial impact.
Warning Signs That Require Immediate Action
Contact an attorney immediately if:
A financial institution freezes accounts citing capacity concerns
You receive notice of guardianship proceedings
A family member suddenly becomes isolated from others
Professional advisors resist providing information
Fees seem excessive relative to services provided
Your loved one expresses clear, consistent objections to their care
When to Start Planning
The best time to create incapacity plans is when you're healthy and clearly competent. Consider taking action:
In your 50s: Basic powers of attorney and advance directives
When diagnosed with any chronic condition: Comprehensive planning
Before any major surgery: Update existing documents
When family dynamics change: Review beneficiaries and decision-makers
If you have significant assets: Consider trust-based planning
Moving Forward: Advocacy and Reform
Williams has become an unlikely advocate for guardianship reform, with supporters rallying under #FreeWendy. Her case has sparked renewed interest in reform, following similar high-profile cases like Britney Spears' conservatorship.
For North Carolina families, the lessons are clear:
Plan early and comprehensively
Choose fiduciaries carefully
Build in accountability measures
Maintain family communication
Review plans regularly
Know your rights
Taking Action Today
Don't wait for a crisis to address incapacity planning. Every adult, regardless of age or health, should have basic documents in place. For those with significant assets or complex family situations, comprehensive planning becomes even more critical.
Questions to ask yourself:
Who would make decisions if I couldn't?
Does my family know my wishes?
Are my documents up to date?
Have I considered alternatives to guardianship?
Do I have accountability measures in place?
The Walls Law Group has guided North Carolina families through incapacity planning for over two decades. We understand that behind every document is a person with dignity, preferences, and the right to maximum autonomy. Our approach balances protection with preservation of rights, helping you create plans that truly serve your best interests.
Whether you're concerned about your own future or seeking to protect a loved one, we're here to help you navigate these complex decisions with wisdom and compassion.
This blog post provides general information about guardianship and incapacity planning in North Carolina. Every situation is unique, and this content does not constitute legal advice for your specific circumstances. To discuss your incapacity planning needs, please consult with an experienced attorney.
