14-5410. Who may be appointed conservator; priorities

A. The court may appoint an individual or a corporation, with general power to serve as trustee, as conservator of the estate of a protected person subject to the requirements of section 14-5106. The following are entitled to consideration for appointment in the order listed:

1. A conservator, guardian of property or other like fiduciary appointed or recognized by the appropriate court of any other jurisdiction in which the protected person resides.

2. An individual or corporation nominated by the protected person if the protected person is at least fourteen years of age and has, in the opinion of the court, sufficient mental capacity to make an intelligent choice.

3. The person nominated to serve as conservator in the protected person's most recent durable power of attorney.

4. The spouse of the protected person.

5. An adult child of the protected person.

6. A parent of the protected person, or a person nominated by the will of a deceased parent.

7. Any relative of the protected person with whom the protected person has resided for more than six months before the filing of the petition.

8. The nominee of a person who is caring for or paying benefits to the protected person.

9. If the protected person is a veteran, the spouse of a veteran or the minor child of a veteran, the department of veterans' services.

10. A fiduciary who is licensed pursuant to section 14-5651, other than a public fiduciary.

11. A public fiduciary who is licensed pursuant to section 14-5651.

B. A person listed in subsection A, paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 of this section may nominate in writing a person to serve in that person's place. With respect to persons having equal priority, the court shall select the one it determines is best qualified to serve. The court, for good cause, may pass over a person having priority and appoint a person having a lower priority or no priority. For the purposes of this subsection, " good cause" includes a determination that:

1. The protected person's durable power of attorney is invalid.

2. Honoring the protected person's durable power of attorney would not be in the physical, emotional or financial best interest of the protected person.

3. The estimated cost of the fiduciary and associated professional fees would adversely affect the ability of the person's estate to provide for the protected person's reasonable and necessary living expenses.

C. On the request of a person who was passed over by the court pursuant to subsection B of this section, the court shall make a specific finding regarding the court's determination of good cause and why the person was not appointed. The request must be made within ten days after the entry of the order.