Nebraska's Public Guardian Office Rejects Nearly All Requests to Represent Vulnerable Residents

Lack of funding and staffing capacity leaves many without a guardian of last resort

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:53pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office space, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows cast across the desks and chairs, conveying a sense of bureaucratic neglect and inertia.The underfunded and understaffed Nebraska Office of Public Guardian has struggled to fulfill its role as a last resort for vulnerable residents, leaving many without state-appointed guardians.Lincoln Today

Nebraska's Office of Public Guardian, created in 2014 to serve as a guardian of last resort for vulnerable residents, is rejecting nearly all new appointments due to a lack of funding and staffing capacity. The office initially turned down 98% of new appointments in the 12-month period ending October 2021, up from 77% in 2020. This has left some vulnerable Nebraskans without a guardian after a private guardian was accused of financial abuse, and has allowed the alleged abuser to retain guardianship of six clients.

Why it matters

The inability of the Public Guardian's Office to take on new cases has raised concerns about the protection of vulnerable Nebraskans, especially after a high-profile case of alleged guardian abuse. The office was created to serve as a safeguard, but its lack of resources has left many without a guardian of last resort.

The details

After a private guardian with dozens of clients was accused of financial abuse, the Public Guardian's Office took on zero new wards. The alleged abuser, Becky Stamp, remained the guardian for at least 25 vulnerable Nebraskans for over a month after her arrest. Attorneys have petitioned the Public Guardian's Office to take over Stamp's remaining six cases, but the office has declined each time due to caseload capacity limitations.

  • The Public Guardian's Office initially turned down 98% of new appointments in the 12-month period ending October 2021, up from 77% in 2020.
  • Becky Stamp was arrested in November 2021 and remained the guardian for at least 25 vulnerable Nebraskans for over a month after her arrest.
  • As of January 2022, Stamp remained the appointed guardian for six vulnerable Nebraskans.

The players

Jaclyn Daake

An attorney in Alma, Nebraska who searched for a new guardian for one of her clients after the previous guardian was accused of financial abuse.

Becky Stamp

A private guardian who was charged with stealing from one of her clients and remained the guardian for at least 25 vulnerable Nebraskans for over a month after her arrest.

Michelle Chaffee

The former director of the Nebraska Office of Public Guardian, who retired in 2024 after years of leading the understaffed and underfunded office.

Corey Steel

The state court administrator who oversees the operations of Nebraska's judicial branch, which includes the Public Guardian's Office.

Sen. Wendy DeBoer

A Nebraska state senator who authored guardianship reform efforts before and after Stamp's arrest.

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What they’re saying

“It's a waste of time.”

— Jaclyn Daake, Attorney

“Bottom line, there's not the political will and commitment to provide services to the most vulnerable in Nebraska.”

— Michelle Chaffee, Former director, Nebraska Office of Public Guardian

“And so that's the quandary we sit in. Without more associate public guardians ... we're at that capacity level.”

— Corey Steel, State court administrator

What’s next

Lawmakers and the judicial branch have implemented new regulations and safeguards aimed at private guardians, but the Public Guardian's Office still faces a lack of funding and staffing to meet the demand for its services. Legislators are considering further reforms, including a study of Nebraska's guardianship system to explore alternatives to full guardianships.

The takeaway

Nebraska's Public Guardian Office, created to serve as a last resort for vulnerable residents without family or friends to act as guardians, is struggling to fulfill its mission due to chronic underfunding and staffing shortages. This has left some Nebraskans without a guardian, even after a high-profile case of alleged guardian abuse, raising concerns about the protection of the state's most vulnerable citizens.