# Title 28 — Judicial Procedure, Civil

## Chapter 28-35 — Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act

### § 28-35-01. (102) Definitions.

In this chapter:
1. "Adult" means an individual who has attained eighteen years of age.
2. "Conservator" means a person appointed by the court to administer the property of an
adult, including a person appointed under chapter 30.1-29.
3. "Guardian" means a person appointed by the court to make decisions regarding the
person of an adult, including a person appointed under chapter 30.1-28.
4. "Guardianship order" means an order appointing a guardian.
5. "Guardianship proceeding" means a judicial proceeding in which an order for the
appointment of a guardian is sought or has been issued.
6. "Incapacitated person" means an adult for whom a guardian has been appointed.
7. "Party" means the respondent, petitioner, guardian, conservator, or any other person
allowed by the court to participate in a guardianship or protective proceeding.
8. "Person", except in the term incapacitated person or protected person, means an
individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability
company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or governmental
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity.
9. "Protected person" means an adult for whom a protective order has been issued.
10. "Protective order" means an order appointing a conservator or other order related to
management of an adult's property.
11. "Protective proceeding" means a judicial proceeding in which a protective order is
sought or has been issued.
12. "Record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in
an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
13. "Respondent" means an adult for whom a protective order or the appointment of a
guardian is sought.
14. "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
United States Virgin Islands, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or any territory or
insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
### § 28-35-02. (103) International application of chapter.

A court of this state may treat a foreign country as if it were a state for the purpose of
applying sections 28-35-01, 28-35-02, 28-35-03, 28-35-04, 28-35-05, 28-35-06, 28-35-07,
28-35-08, 28-35-09, 28-35-10, 28-35-11, 28-35-12, 28-35-13, 28-35-14, 28-35-15, 28-35-16,
and 28-35-20.
### § 28-35-03. (104) Communication between courts.

1. A court of this state may communicate with a court in another state concerning a
proceeding arising under this chapter. The court may allow the parties to participate in
the communication. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the court shall
make a record of the communication. The record may be limited to the fact that the
communication occurred.
2. Courts may communicate concerning schedules, calendars, court records, and other
administrative matters without making a record.
### § 28-35-04. (105) Cooperation between courts.

1. In a guardianship or protective proceeding in this state, a court of this state may
request the appropriate court of another state to do any of the following:
a. Hold an evidentiary hearing;
b. Order a person in that state to produce evidence or give testimony pursuant to
procedures of that state;

c. Order that an evaluation or assessment be made of the respondent;
d. Order any appropriate investigation of a person involved in a proceeding;
e. Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript or other record
of a hearing under subdivision a or any other proceeding, any evidence otherwise
produced under subdivision b, and any evaluation or assessment prepared in
compliance with an order under subdivision c or d;
f. Issue any order necessary to assure the appearance in the proceeding of a
person whose presence is necessary for the court to make a determination,
including the respondent or the incapacitated or protected person; or
g. Issue an order authorizing the release of medical, financial, criminal, or other
relevant information in that state, including protected health information as
defined in title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, part 164, section 504.
2. If a court of another state in which a guardianship or protective proceeding is pending
requests assistance of the kind provided in subsection 1, a court of this state has
jurisdiction for the limited purpose of granting the request or making reasonable efforts
to comply with the request.
### § 28-35-05. (106) Taking testimony in another state.

1. In a guardianship or protective proceeding, in addition to other procedures that may be
available, testimony of a witness who is located in another state may be offered by
deposition or other means allowable in this state for testimony taken in another state.
The court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a witness be taken in
another state and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the
testimony is to be taken.
2. In a guardianship or protective proceeding, a court in this state may permit a witness
located in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone or audiovisual or other
electronic means. A court of this state shall cooperate with the court of the other state
in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
3. Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of this state by
technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be excluded from
evidence on an objection based on the best evidence rule.
### § 28-35-06. (201) Definitions - Significant connection factors.

1. In sections 28-35-06, 28-35-07, 28-35-08, 28-35-09, 28-35-10, 28-35-11, 28-35-12,
28-35-13, and 28-35-14:
a. "Emergency" means a circumstance that likely will result in substantial harm to a
respondent's health, safety, or welfare, and for which the appointment of a
guardian is necessary because no other person has authority and is willing to act
on the respondent's behalf.
b. "Home state" means the state in which the respondent was physically present,
including any period of temporary absence, for at least six consecutive months
immediately before the filing of a petition for a protective order or the appointment
of a guardian; or if none, the state in which the respondent was physically
present, including any period of temporary absence, for at least six consecutive
months ending within the six months prior to the filing of the petition.
c. "Significant-connection state" means a state, other than the home state, with
which a respondent has a significant connection other than mere physical
presence and in which substantial evidence concerning the respondent is
available.
2. In determining under sections 28-35-08 and subsection 5 of section 28-35-15 whether
a respondent has a significant connection with a particular state, the court shall
consider:
a. The location of the respondent's family and other persons required to be notified
of the guardianship or protective proceeding;
b. The length of time the respondent at any time was physically present in the state
and the duration of any absence;

c. The location of the respondent's property; and
d. The extent to which the respondent has ties to the state such as voting
registration, state or local tax return filing, vehicle registration, driver's license,
social relationship, and receipt of services.
### § 28-35-07. (202) Exclusive basis.

Sections 28-35-06, 28-35-07, 28-35-08, 28-35-09, 28-35-10, 28-35-11, 28-35-12, 28-35-13,
and 28-35-14 provide the exclusive jurisdictional basis for a court of this state to appoint a
guardian or issue a protective order for an adult.
### § 28-35-08. (203) Jurisdiction.

A court of this state has jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order for a
respondent if:
1. This state is the respondent's home state;
2. On the date the petition is filed, this state is a significant-connection state and:
a. The respondent does not have a home state or a court of the respondent's home
state has declined to exercise jurisdiction because this state is a more
appropriate forum; or
b. The respondent has a home state, a petition for an appointment or order is not
pending in a court of that state or another significant-connection state, and,
before the court makes the appointment or issues the order:
(1) A petition for an appointment or order is not filed in the respondent's home
state;
(2) An objection to the court's jurisdiction is not filed by a person required to be
notified of the proceeding; and
(3) The court in this state concludes that it is an appropriate forum under the
factors set forth in section 28-35-11;
3. This state does not have jurisdiction under either subsection 1 or 2, the respondent's
home state and all significant-connection states have declined to exercise jurisdiction
because this state is the more appropriate forum, and jurisdiction in this state is
consistent with the constitutions of this state and the United States; or
4. The requirements for special jurisdiction under section 28-35-09 are met.
### § 28-35-09. (204) Special jurisdiction.

1. A court of this state lacking jurisdiction under section 28-35-08 has special jurisdiction
to do any of the following:
a. Appoint a guardian in an emergency for a term not exceeding ninety days for a
respondent who is physically present in this state;
b. Issue a protective order with respect to real or tangible personal property located
in this state; or
c. Appoint a guardian or conservator for an incapacitated or protected person for
whom a provisional order to transfer the proceeding from another state has been
issued under procedures similar to section 28-35-15.
2. If a petition for the appointment of a guardian in an emergency is brought in this state
and this state was not the respondent's home state on the date the petition was filed,
the court shall dismiss the proceeding at the request of the court of the home state, if
any, whether dismissal is requested before or after the emergency appointment.
### § 28-35-10. (205) Exclusive and continuing jurisdiction.

Except as otherwise provided in section 28-35-09, a court that has appointed a guardian or
issued a protective order consistent with this chapter has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction
over the proceeding until the appointment or order is terminated by the court or the appointment
or order expires by its own terms.

### § 28-35-11. (206) Appropriate forum.

1. A court of this state having jurisdiction under section 28-35-08 to appoint a guardian or
issue a protective order may decline to exercise its jurisdiction if the court determines
at any time that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.
2. If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection 1, the court
shall either dismiss or stay the proceeding. The court may impose any condition the
court considers just and proper, including the condition that a petition for the
appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order be filed promptly in
another state.
3. In determining whether a court is an appropriate forum, the court shall consider all
relevant factors, including:
a. Any expressed preference of the respondent;
b. Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the respondent has occurred or is likely
to occur and which state could best protect the respondent from the abuse,
neglect, or exploitation;
c. The length of time the respondent was physically present in or was a legal
resident of this or another state;
d. The distance of the respondent from the court in each state;
e. The financial circumstances of the respondent's estate;
f. The nature and location of the evidence;
g. The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the
procedures necessary to present evidence;
h. The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the
proceeding; and
i. If an appointment were made, the court's ability to monitor the conduct of the
guardian or conservator.
### § 28-35-12. (207) Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.

1. If at any time a court of this state determines that the court acquired jurisdiction to
appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because of unjustifiable conduct, the
court may:
a. Decline to exercise jurisdiction;
b. Exercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of fashioning an appropriate remedy
to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the respondent or the protection of the
respondent'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
c. Continue to exercise jurisdiction after considering:
(1) The extent to which the respondent and all persons required to be notified of
the proceedings have acquiesced in the exercise of the court's jurisdiction;
(2) Whether it is a more appropriate forum than the court of any other state
under the factors set forth in subsection 3 of section 28-35-11; and
(3) Whether the court of any other state would have jurisdiction under factual
circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of
section 28-35-09.
2. If a court of this state determines that the court acquired jurisdiction to appoint a
guardian or issue a protective order because a party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction
engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court 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 chapter.

### § 28-35-13. (208) Notice of proceeding.

If a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is brought in
this state and this state was not the respondent's home state on the date the petition was filed,
in addition to complying with the notice requirements of this state, notice of the petition must be
given to those persons who would be entitled to notice of the petition if a proceeding were
brought in the respondent's home state. The notice must be given in the same manner as notice
is required to be given in this state.
### § 28-35-14. (209) Proceedings in more than one state.

Except for a petition for the appointment of a guardian in an emergency or issuance of a
protective order limited to property located in this state under subdivision a or b of subsection 1
of section 28-35-09, if a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective
order is filed in this state and in another state and neither petition has been dismissed or
withdrawn, the following rules apply:
1. If the court in this state has jurisdiction under section 28-35-08, the court may proceed
with the case unless a court in another state acquires jurisdiction under provisions
similar to section 28-35-09 before the appointment or issuance of the order.
2. If the court in this state does not have jurisdiction under section 28-35-08, whether at
the time the petition is filed or at any time before the appointment or issuance of the
order, the court shall stay the proceeding and communicate with the court in the other
state. If the court in the other state has jurisdiction, the court in this state shall dismiss
the petition unless the court in the other state determines that the court in this state is
a more appropriate forum.
### § 28-35-15. (301) Transfer of guardianship or conservatorship to another state.

1. A guardian or conservator appointed in this state may petition the court to transfer the
guardianship or conservatorship to another state.
2. Notice of a petition under subsection 1 must be given to the persons that would be
entitled to notice of a petition in this state for the appointment of a guardian or
conservator.
3. On the court's own motion or on request of the guardian or conservator, the
incapacitated or protected person, or other person required to be notified of the
petition, the court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection 1.
4. The court shall issue an order provisionally granting a petition to transfer a
guardianship and shall direct the guardian to petition for guardianship in the other state
if the court is satisfied that the guardianship will be accepted by the court in the other
state and the court finds that:
a. The incapacitated person is physically present in or is reasonably expected to
move permanently to the other state;
b. An objection to the transfer has not been made or, if an objection has been made,
the objector has not established that the transfer would be contrary to the
interests of the incapacitated person; and
c. Plans for care and services for the incapacitated person in the other state are
reasonable and sufficient.
5. The court shall issue a provisional order granting a petition to transfer a
conservatorship and shall direct the conservator to petition for conservatorship in the
other state if the court is satisfied that the conservatorship will be accepted by the
court of the other state and the court finds that:
a. The protected person is physically present in or is reasonably expected to move
permanently to the other state, or the protected person has a significant
connection to the other state considering the factors in subsection 2 of section
28-35-06;
b. An objection to the transfer has not been made or, if an objection has been made,
the objector has not established that the transfer would be contrary to the
interests of the protected person; and

c. Adequate arrangements will be made for management of the protected person's
property.
6. The court shall issue a final order confirming the transfer and terminating the
guardianship or conservatorship upon its receipt of:
a. A provisional order accepting the proceeding from the court to which the
proceeding is to be transferred which is issued under provisions similar to section
28-35-16; and
b. The documents required to terminate a guardianship or conservatorship in this
state.
### § 28-35-16. (302) Accepting guardianship or conservatorship transferred from another

state.
1. To confirm transfer of a guardianship or conservatorship transferred to this state under
provisions similar to section 28-35-15, the guardian or conservator must petition the
court in this state to accept the guardianship or conservatorship. The petition must
include a certified copy of the other state's provisional order of transfer.
2. Notice of a petition under subsection 1 must be given to those persons that would be
entitled to notice if the petition were a petition for the appointment of a guardian or
issuance of a protective order in both the transferring state and this state. The notice
must be given in the same manner as notice is required to be given in this state.
3. On the court's own motion or on request of the guardian or conservator, the
incapacitated or protected person, or other person required to be notified of the
proceeding, the court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection 1.
4. The court shall issue an order provisionally granting a petition filed under subsection 1
unless:
a. An objection is made and the objector establishes that transfer of the proceeding
would be contrary to the interests of the incapacitated or protected person; or
b. The guardian or conservator is ineligible for appointment in this state.
5. The court shall issue a final order accepting the proceeding and appointing the
guardian or conservator as guardian or conservator in this state upon the court's
receipt from the court from which the proceeding is being transferred of a final order
issued under provisions similar to section 28-35-15 transferring the proceeding to this
state.
6. No later than ninety days after issuance of a final order accepting transfer of a
guardianship or conservatorship, the court shall determine whether the guardianship
or conservatorship needs to be modified to conform to the law of this state.
7. In granting a petition under this section, the court shall recognize a guardianship or
conservatorship order from the other state, including the determination of the
incapacitated or protected person's incapacity and the appointment of the guardian or
conservator.
8. The denial by a court of this state of a petition to accept a guardianship or
conservatorship transferred from another state does not affect the ability of the
guardian or conservator to seek appointment as guardian or conservator in this state
under chapter 30.1-28 or 30.1-29 if the court has jurisdiction to make an appointment
other than by reason of the provisional order of transfer.
### § 28-35-17. (401) Registration of guardianship orders.

If a guardian has been appointed in another state and a petition for the appointment of a
guardian is not pending in this state, the guardian appointed in the other state, after giving
notice to the appointing court of an intent to register, may register the guardianship order in this
state by filing as a foreign judgment in a court, in any appropriate county of this state, certified
copies of the order and letters of office.

### § 28-35-18. (402) Registration of protective orders.

If a conservator has been appointed in another state and a petition for a protective order is
not pending in this state, the conservator appointed in the other state, after giving notice to the
appointing court of an intent to register, may register the protective order in this state by filing as
a foreign judgment in a court of this state, in any county in which property belonging to the
protected person is located, certified copies of the order and letters of office and of any bond.
### § 28-35-19. (403) Effect of registration.

1. Upon registration of a guardianship or protective order from another state, the
guardian or conservator may exercise in this state all powers authorized in the order of
appointment except as prohibited under the laws of this state, including maintaining
actions and proceedings in this state and, if the guardian or conservator is not a
resident of this state, subject to any conditions imposed upon nonresident parties.
2. A court of this state may grant any relief available under this chapter and other law of
this state to enforce a registered order.
### § 28-35-20. (502) Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce

Act.
This chapter modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global
and National Commerce Act [15 U.S.C. 7001 et seq.], but does not modify, limit, or supersede
section 101(c) of that Act [15 U.S.C. 7001(c)], or authorize electronic delivery of any of the
notices described in section 103(b) of that Act [15 U.S.C. 7003(b)].
