Court-appointed guardians controlled much of 74-year-old Linda McDowell’s life for 30 months. A judge ended the guardianship in 2014, and she now lives in her mobile home with her dog, Sam, much of her savings gone. PHOTO: STUART ISETT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Court-appointed guardians controlled much of 74-year-old Linda McDowell’s life for 30 months. A judge ended the guardianship in 2014, and she now lives in her mobile home with her dog, Sam, much of her savings gone. PHOTO: STUART ISETT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Court-appointed guardians controlled much of 74-year-old Linda McDowell's life for 30 months. A judge ended the guardianship in 2014, and she now lives in her mobile home with her dog, Sam, much of her savings gone. PHOTO: STUART ISETT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Court-appointed guardians controlled much of 74-year-old Linda McDowell's life for 30 months. A judge ended the guardianship in 2014, and she now lives in her mobile home with her dog, Sam, much of her savings gone. PHOTO: STUART ISETT FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL