§ 33-15-7. Guardians ad litem - Duties - Legally incapacitated respondents right to counsel - Termination of appointment of guardian ad litem. (a) Upon filing with the probate court clerk of a petition for the appointment of a guardian, a guardian ad litem shall be appointed for each respondent only in the proceeding for guardianship of an adult.

(b) The guardian ad litem need not be an attorney but shall have sufficient experience and/or training in dealing with elderly persons and persons with incapacities and/or disabilities and understanding of his or her role as guardian ad litem to be able to properly discharge such duties under subsection (c) below. Each probate court shall maintain a list of persons deemed qualified to serve as a guardian ad litem and shall appoint from that list on a rotating basis. Any guardian ad litem appointed for a respondent shall be ineligible to serve as legal counsel, temporary guardian, or permanent guardian for that respondent.

(c) The duties of a guardian ad litem shall include all of the following:

(1) Personally visiting the respondent;

(2) Explaining to the respondent the nature, purpose, and legal effect of the appointment of a guardian;

(3) Explaining to the respondent the hearing procedure, including, but not limited to, the right to contest the petition, to request limits on the guardian's powers, to object to a particular person being appointed guardian, to be present at the hearing, and to be represented by legal counsel;

(4) Informing the respondent of the name of the person known to be seeking appointment as guardian;

(5) Reviewing the decision making assessment tool(s), petition for guardianship/limited guardianship, and the notice;

(6) Interviewing the prospective guardian by telephone or in person; and

(7) Making determinations, and informing the court of those determinations, on all of the following:

(i) Whether the respondent wishes to be present at the hearing;

(ii) Whether the respondent wishes to contest the petition;

(iii) Whether the respondent wishes limits placed on the guardian's powers;

(iv) Whether the respondent objects to a particular person being appointed guardian; and

(v) Whether the respondent wishes to be represented by legal counsel.

Unless waived by the court, at least three (3) days prior to the hearing, the guardian ad litem shall file a report substantially in the form as set forth in § 33-15-47 with the court and shall mail or hand deliver a copy to each attorney of record.

(d) If the respondent wishes to contest the petition, to have limits placed on the guardian's powers, or to object to a particular person being appointed guardian, and, if legal counsel has not been secured, the court shall appoint legal counsel.

(e) If the respondent requests legal counsel, or if the guardian ad litem determines it is in the best interest of the respondent to have legal counsel, and if legal counsel has not been secured, the court shall appoint legal counsel.

(f) If the respondent has legal counsel independently or appointed pursuant to subsection (d) or (e), the appointment of a guardian ad litem shall terminate except insofar as informing the court of the respondent's wishes and objections determined pursuant to subsection (c).

(g) The guardian ad litem shall not interfere with interested parties and their counsel in gathering and presenting evidence according to court orders and rules of discovery and evidence. The guardian ad litem may be called and confronted as a witness regarding his or her conclusions as submitted by report and the extent of his or her personal knowledge concerning the respondent.

(h) Court awarded guardian ad litem fees shall not exceed eight hundred dollars ($800), which shall be paid by the petitioner for guardianship if a permanent guardian is not appointed for the respondent or by the guardian of the ward's estate if a permanent guardian is appointed. The court has discretion to award guardian ad litem fees in excess of the cap if the circumstances warrant.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 493, § 4; P.L. 1994, ch. 359, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 110, § 9; P.L. 2007, ch. 417, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 299, § 3; P.L. 2017, ch. 286, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 294, § 1.)