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I care for my 88 year old mother who has lived with us for over a year now. She's unable to open jars, bottles, etc. due to RA. I just got summoned for jury duty. I have no siblings so there's only me. Is this a valid excuse? Do I have to shirk one duty for another duty?

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Give her maximum care
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This happened to me and I was excused. I had to fill out a form and return it by a certain date.
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You will need to go to her doctor and have him write a letter in the clinic's letterhead form. Your mom's doctor will state your mom's name, her diagnosis, and that she needs 24hr care. In that letter, he will then say that you are your mother's main caregiver. Have him stamp it with their clinic stamp (if they have one), sign it, date it, and Seal It In the Clinic's Envelope. You will then bring it with you at the first call to meet. At that time, you can drop it off in the drop box. They will or will not let you know if you're excused.

I was mother's Secondary Caregiver. I was not excused. If your mom's doctor won't do it, then you will need to decide what to do. Stay home and ignore the summons. The court marshalls will come and arrest you (they do that here on island at your work so that everyone can see you being arrested.)
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Wow, SSan, that's ALL you had to do? Gee whiz...we had to get a medical certification that we are the main caregiver, etc...and have it SEALED in an envelope. I guess, here on island, so many people abused "I'm my parent's caregiver" excuse!
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Fill out the questionnaire that they send to you prior to your jury call, and then find a replacement for one day. Go to the courthouse. Ask for a deferral based on your excuse. If you are not called, go home. If you are called, then contact, in person, the clerk of the court. Tell them your situation, and ask for an excuse, a deferral. If they deny your excuse, wait to be interviewed by the two attorneys. If you are not chosen, go home. If you are chosen. please find a caregiver for a temporary bit of time. No one likes jury duty.
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Yes what bookluv said. The Doctor has to sign an affidavit stating that your mother needs 24 hour care. I got excuses last year, but they told me I would have to do it every time I get a summons! Which of course, made me mad!
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The first year that I had guardianship of my mother, I received "Notice to Appear". The included survey form asked for any reason that I should not be expected to serve. In writing, I truthfully explained my situation and I included a copy of the court order of guardianship. I didn't want to take a chance that this service would be more than a few days. Public service is very important, but my mother's safety is more important.
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This just happened to me. I filled out the court questionnaire, explained that I was the sole caregiver, and they excused me without the need for *any* documentation! Let's face it -- you have thousands of courthouses, and each can follow different requirements and procedures. Some are more trusting (that people won't lie), others are not.
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I live in a very populated area and a friend of mine just provided a simple explanation on the summons form. That was all that was needed. But, as someone else mentioned, that could vary court to court. I'd imagine that in a less populated area, the court would have to be stricter about excusing people because the pool of potential jurors is smaller.
I wouldn't be tempted to just go ahead and serve. As, mgcarter pointed out, you never know how long the commitment will be if you're selected for a trial.
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I have been called for jury duty a few times in the past three years. I simply filled out a form, stating that I was sole caregiver for my elderly mother. Nothing more, and I was excused each time.
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If mom needs 24 hour care you will be excused. This assumes she cannot go to the bathroom or feed herself or that she has dementia memory / judgement issues.
If mom is unable to open jars, I suggest you make breakfast before leaving and leave her lunch out. Her condition may be harsher than you described. Maybe you can get someone to check on her, or be on standby for emergencies.
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First, your jury duty is required, however, your mother's condition does not warrant you getting out of jury duty because, in my opinion, you can leave easy open flip-top jars/bowls for her to open, heat up, etc. You do not mention she has dementia, so I am assuming she can manage being left alone for a short period. Go to Court, see if you can get excused based on questions the attorney's will ask you. I was excused because the plaintiff had a high blood alcohol, hit someone, and was charged with extreme DUI. I stated, as a nurse, I knew his judgment would have been impaired with any alcohol consumption because it distorts perception. I was dismissed immediately. You won't know what the case is about until you get into the courtroom, but there are millions of caregivers who have charge of others in worse condition than your mother. I suggest you hire someone if you get selected, have a friend or church member come and check on her. Again, you do not mention she has dementia, so her care is not one that would put her in danger (starting a fire, wandering, etc.).
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I would call n just ask to find out before getting anything from a physician for sometimes the physician's office will charge you for a sign letter of such. One of my mil's dr charges $25.00 for anything he has to sign which is ridiculous.
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I had to report to jury duty, so I paid for a home health aide to be with my father so I could report. At some point in the selection process they asked if we could easily work as a juror or if serving at a juror would be a hardship. I explained I was in your exact position, a sole caregiver/single person who was an only child etc. I was excused. I think most courts will provide for sole caregivers.
Elizabeth
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It is generally understood that the job of primary caregiver is very demanding, especially when you take into consideration for most it's a 24/7/365 obligation.
The thing most don't understand is that it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to interrupt a strict medication schedule, doctors appointments, laundry, food preparation, bathing, etc...
Unfortunately, not all jurisdictions have a standardized jury exemption procedure, and doubly sad is the fact that some would use primary caregiver as an excuse to avoid their jury duty obligations. Most primary caregivers would welcome jury duty as a well deserved vacation from the sometimes overwhelming demands of taking care of a declining loved one, or two, as the case may be.
Call your local county courts administrator's office, and they should be able to provide you with the necessary exemption information.
Thank God I only have to check a box on the notification card, attesting to the fact that I'm a primary caregiver, and sign it, under the penalty of perjury of coarse.
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Each time I receive a questionnaire I fill it out explaining that I am my mother's sole caregiver, her medical, giving her doctor's contact information, etc. Still I get summons. Subsequently, each time this happened I obtained a letter from my mother's MD stating her condition, my position, etc. and took it down to the courthouse. I am then excused. Feeling this was a imposition on that the doctor and his staff and my time away from my mother to take the letters to the courthouse (one hour travel each way), I a wrote respectful detailed letter to the court clerk stating everything and had the letter notarized. I received a response letter from the court clerk saying I could be fined for not appearing in person at the courthouse. The system just doesn't understand or care. Hope you have better luck.
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If you in fact do not want to go to the jury duty, then have your/her Dr. say you are a full time caregiver, and are unable to leave her alone.
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I agree with SSsan. I was called by letter and given instructions to opt out. I didn't have the caregiver duty then, but do now. Surely there is a court house number to call and ask their procedure. I spent half a day there and wasn't chosen as a juror . (Smile for me...they asked who all owned a piano, and chose me to answer first, I said I had one most of my life and loved having it. Turns out the trial was about a ladies piano being damaged by movers. I was OBVIOUSLY
not chosen. Don't know why I said I love it, but I do and I did. Smile for me!)
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I filled out form and typed a letter that said I am my Mothers Primary care giver.. gave my Mother's Doctors name address and phone also let her know the dx's that she has.. Within two days they wrote back and told me i was excused.
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Last year, as a CA resident, I received a jury summons to report to a county courthouse that that is 30 miles away from our home. My elderly Mom got panicky, but I, the caregiver, called the commissioner service to have my summons transferred and to report to a location in our county's area to only 2 miles from home. Fortunately, I was evidently excused!!
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Windrose, Yes this is a valid excuse! I just got called to serve as well. the summons was for the 19th of August. I filled out the card that was attached to the summons, as to why I was not able to serve and sent it in. I later received a postcard , stating that I was excused, and thanking me for returning the card and info. Nothing else was necessary. Hope this helps
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EVERY jurisdiction across the United States is different. With you're taking someone or not being able to attend because of your on disability, many juror forms only require a doctors validation if the patient or the prospective juror is under a certain age. Some here have suggested hiring someone to scary with the elder. Not being able to do that could also fall under hardship for financial reasons.

You are online to communicate with Aging Care. Just about every Municipal, County, State and Federal court is online with a website today. Go to the court website indicated on your jury form and simply look up the excusal regulations.

It should tell you everything you need to know including a phone number if you have further questions.
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Just call your local court house and explain this and they will exempt you from having to serve. They would not make you come in a situation like this. Hope you have done this already and that it works for you.

Sunny:)
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OK, and there is no need to press the panic button when all you will do is to get your elder's doctor's letter to explain and validate the situation, and you may even get excused for a long time! In San Mateo County in CA, the under age 70, for example, this caregiver jury exemption requires a doctor's letter to validate the excused individual from jury duty.
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I am in S. CA, and am my husband's sole caregiver. When the jury summons came a few months ago I simply filled in the "request to be excused" section of the form, stating that I am sole caregiver for my husband in late stage Alzheimer's, and sent it back. It didn't occur to me to think of obtaining documentation of any sort. Just sent it in, trusting they would accept my word at face value. And I guess they did, since I haven't heard any more about it. I hope it's as simple and easy for you, WindRose!
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Read the back of the summons. There is usually a number you can call to talk to someone about your circumstances and they will tell you what to do.
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I believe it is different in every state. Don't ignore the summons to appear. The letter from the your mom's primary doctor is just "extra documentation" should the court ask for it. They are usually very accommodating.
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Oh my gosh we just went thru with this with my 88 year old mother-in-law. This is the second time in the last 3 years that she has gotten a jury summons. Every single time I write on the card you have to return to them 'STOP SENDING THIS OLD LADY JURY NOTICES'. But they just keep'em coming. Finally my husband called them this time, and they told him that unless the person is DEAD, they'll keep getting those stinkin' notices! We can keep a space station orbiting earth for years, but are unable to retire names of people that are over 70 years old from a jury summons. Geez
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I went to the website to reply, and gave my hardship notifications. I was excused. Easy as that, for me! Hope it resolves easy for you!
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NancyH, did you obtain a letter from your 88-year-old mother's doctor?? Next time, just send in a copy of the doctor's letter with the filled out excuse field on the back of the summons form with her age and her one medical condition. If Mom cannot sign her name, you then sign your name on the form as her (Daughter). Keep the original doctor's letter on hand in case those Bozos at court bother your mother again! Perhaps you may call your mother residential State and County and ask just how many years is the doctor's letter valid?
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