2019 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE
Article 5: MAINE UNIFORM GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP AND PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS
Part 4: CONSERVATORSHIP
18-C §5-423. Conservator's report and accounting; monitoring

§5-423. Conservator's report and accounting; monitoring

1.  Report.  A conservator shall file a report in a record with the court regarding the administration of the conservatorship estate annually unless the court otherwise directs, on resignation or removal, on termination of the conservatorship and at any other time as the court directs.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

2.  Contents.  A report under subsection 1 must state or contain:  

A. An accounting that contains a list of property included in the conservatorship estate and of the receipts, disbursements, liabilities and distributions during the period for which the report is made;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. A list of the services provided to the individual subject to conservatorship;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. A copy of the conservator's most recently approved plan and a statement whether the conservator has deviated from the plan and, if so, how and why the conservator has deviated;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

D. Any recommended change in the conservatorship, including its scope and whether the conservatorship needs to continue;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

E. An annual credit report of the individual subject to conservatorship and, to the extent feasible, a copy of the most recent reasonably available financial statements evidencing the status of bank accounts, investment accounts and mortgages or other debts of the individual subject to conservatorship, with all but the last 4 digits of the account numbers and the individual's social security number redacted;   [PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §80 (AMD).]

F. Anything of more than de minimis value that the conservator, any individual who resides with the conservator or the spouse, domestic partner, parent, child or sibling of the conservator has received from a person providing goods or services to the individual subject to conservatorship;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

G. Any business relation the conservator has with a person providing goods or services to the individual subject to conservatorship;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

H. Any business relation the conservator has with a person the conservator has paid or a person that has benefited from the property of the individual subject to conservatorship; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

I. Whether any coconservator or successor conservator appointed to serve when a designated future event occurs is alive and able to serve.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

[PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §80 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

3.  Visitor.  The court may appoint a visitor to review a report under this section or conservator's plan under section 5-419, interview the individual subject to conservatorship or conservator and investigate any matter involving the conservatorship as the court directs. In connection with the report, the court may order the conservator to submit the conservatorship estate to appropriate examination in a manner the court directs.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

4.  Notice of report; copy.  Notice of the filing under this section of a conservator's report, together with a copy of the report, must be provided to the individual subject to conservatorship, all persons entitled to notice under section 5-411, subsection 5 or a subsequent order, and a person the court determines is entitled to the report. Notwithstanding section 5-409, the credit report provided pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph E is confidential and may not be provided with the rest of the conservator's report except to the individual subject to conservatorship. The notice and report must be given not later than 14 days after filing.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

5.  Monitoring; frequency of report.  The court shall establish procedures for monitoring a conservator's plan and report and review the plan and report not less than annually to determine whether:  

A. The plan and report provide sufficient information to establish the conservator has complied with the conservator's duties;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. The conservatorship should continue; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. The conservator's requested fees, if any, should be approved.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

6.  Noncompliance.  If the court determines there is reason to believe the conservator has not complied with the conservator's duties or the conservatorship should not continue, the court:  

A. Shall notify the conservator, the individual subject to conservatorship and all persons entitled to notice under section 5-411, subsection 5 or a subsequent order;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. May require additional information from the conservator;   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. May appoint a visitor to interview the individual subject to conservatorship or conservator and investigate any matter involving the conservatorship as the court directs; and   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

D. May, consistent with sections 5-430 and 5-431, hold a hearing to consider removal of the conservator, termination of the conservatorship or a change in the powers granted to the conservator or terms of the conservatorship.   [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

7.  Unreasonable fees.  If the court determines there is reason to believe a conservator's requested fees are not reasonable, the court shall hold a hearing to adjust the fees.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

8.  Approval of report or accounting.  A conservator may petition the court for approval of a report or accounting filed under this section. The court after review may approve the report or accounting. An order, after notice and hearing, approving a final report or accounting discharges the conservator from all liabilities, claims and causes of action by a person given notice of the report or accounting and the hearing as to a matter adequately disclosed in the report or accounting.  

[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

9.  Application to existing conservatorships.  For conservatorships established prior to January 1, 2008, the conservator is not subject to the requirement for an annual report and accounting until so ordered by the court.  

[PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §81 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §§80, 81 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).