2017 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 18-A: PROBATE CODE
Article 5: PROTECTION OF PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY AND THEIR PROPERTY
Part 4: PROTECTION OF PROPERTY OF PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY AND MINORS
18-A §5-410. Who may be appointed conservator; priorities

§5-410. 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. 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; [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

(2). An individual or corporation nominated by the protected person if he is 14 or more years of age and has, in the opinion of the court, sufficient mental capacity to make an intelligent choice; [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

(3). The spouse of the protected person; [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

(3-A). The domestic partner of the protected person; [2003, c. 672, §15 (NEW).]

(4). An adult child of the protected person; [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

(5). A parent of the protected person, or a person nominated by the will of a deceased parent; [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

(6). Any relative of the protected person with whom he has resided for more than 6 months prior to the filing of the petition; [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

(7). A person nominated by the person who is caring for him or paying benefits to him. [1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW).]

[ 2003, c. 672, §15 (AMD) .]

(b). A person in subsection (a), paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5), or (6) may nominate in writing a person to serve in his stead. With respect to persons having equal priority, the court is to select the one who is best qualified of those willing to serve. The court, for good cause, may pass over a person having priority and appoint a person having less priority or no priority.

[ 1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW) .]

(c). A facility or institution licensed under Title 22, sections 1817 and 7801, or an owner, proprietor, administrator, employee or other person with substantial financial interest in the facility or institution, may not act as conservator of the estate of a resident of that facility or institution, unless he is entitled to appointment under subsection (a), paragraph (3), (4), (5) or (6).

[ 1985, c. 770, §2 (AMD) .]

(d). When appointed by the court, the conservator shall inform the court as to the conservator's residence. If the residence changes, the conservator shall inform the court of that change. If the conservator is a corporation, the corporate offices are considered the conservator's residence for the purposes of this section.

[ 1995, c. 291, §1 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1979, c. 540, §1 (NEW). 1979, c. 690, §20 (AMD). 1985, c. 770, §2 (AMD). 1995, c. 291, §1 (AMD). 2003, c. 672, §15 (AMD).