2017 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 62 - South Carolina Probate Code
ARTICLE 5 - PROTECTION OF PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY AND THEIR PROPERTY
Section 62-5-711. Jurisdiction acquired due to unjustifiable conduct; assessment of reasonable expenses against responsible party.

Section effective January 1, 2019. See, also, Section 62-5-711 effective until January 1, 2019.

(A) If at any time the court determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because of unjustifiable conduct, the court may:

(1) decline to exercise jurisdiction;

(2) exercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of fashioning an appropriate remedy to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the alleged incapacitated individual or the protection of the alleged incapacitated individual's property or prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is filed in a court of another state having jurisdiction; or

(3) continue to exercise jurisdiction after considering:

(a) the extent to which the alleged incapacitated individual and all persons required to be notified of the proceedings have acquiesced in the exercise of the court's jurisdiction;

(b) whether it is a more appropriate forum than the court of any other state pursuant to the factors provided in Section 62-5-710(C); and

(c) whether the court of any other state would have jurisdiction under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of Section 62-5-708.

(B) If the court determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because a party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction engaged in unjustifiable conduct, it may assess against that party necessary and reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, investigative fees, court costs, communication expenses, witness fees and expenses, and travel expenses. The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses of any kind against this State or a governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of this State unless authorized by law other than this article.

HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 213, Section 1, eff January 1, 2011; 2017 Act No. 87 (S.415), Section 5.B, eff January 1, 2019.

Editor's Note

2010 Act No. 213, Section 4, provides as follows:

"The provisions of this act take effect on January 1, 2011, and apply to guardianship and protective proceedings begun on or after that date."

Effect of Amendment

2017 Act No. 87, Section 5.B, in (A)(2) and (A)(3)(a), substituted "alleged incapacitated individual" for "respondent", and in (A)(2), substituted "alleged incapacitated individual's" for "respondent's".