Subdivision 1. Commissioner to serve. The commissioner shall serve as public guardian with all the powers awarded pursuant to the guardianship, until termination or modification by the court.

Subd. 2. Petition. The commissioner, ward, or any interested person may petition the appointing court or the court to which venue has been transferred for an order to remove the guardianship or to limit or expand the powers of the guardianship or to appoint a guardian or conservator under sections 524.5-101 to 524.5-502 or to restore the ward or protected person to full legal capacity or to review de novo any decision made by the public guardian or public conservator for or on behalf of a ward or protected person or for any other order as the court may deem just and equitable.

Subd. 3. Notice of time and place. Upon the filing of the petition the court shall fix the time and place for the hearing. Notice of the filing of the petition and of the hearing shall be provided in the manner set forth in section 252A.081.

Subd. 4. Comprehensive evaluation. The commissioner shall, at the court's request, arrange for the preparation of a comprehensive evaluation of the ward or protected person.

Subd. 5. Court order. Upon proof of the allegations of the petition the court shall enter an order removing the guardianship or limiting or expanding the powers of the guardianship or restoring the ward or protected person to full legal capacity or may enter such other order as the court may deem just and equitable.

Subd. 6. County attorney participation. The county attorney may attend the hearing and may oppose the petition in the court and in the appellate courts if the county attorney deems it for the best interest of the public.

Subd. 7. Attorney general's role; commissioner's role. The attorney general may appear and represent the commissioner in such proceedings. The commissioner shall support or oppose the petition if the commissioner deems such action necessary for the protection and supervision of the ward or protected person.

Subd. 8. Court appointed counsel. In all such proceedings, the protected person or ward shall be afforded an opportunity to be represented by counsel, and if neither the protected person or ward nor others provide counsel the court shall appoint counsel to represent the protected person or ward.

Subd. 9. Costs for private guardianship. In proceedings where private guardianship or conservatorship is being sought under sections 524.5-101 to 524.5-502, costs are reimbursable under section 524.5-502.

History: 1975 c 208 s 19; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 185 art 1 s 27-30; 1995 c 189 s 8; 1996 c 277 s 1; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 13 s 12; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113; 2004 c 146 art 3 s 20