Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-315 – Special limitations on guardian’s power
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1. Limitations; health care; finances. Unless authorized by the court by specific order, a guardian for an adult does not have the power to revoke or amend a power of attorney for health care or an advance health care directive or power of attorney for finances executed by the adult. If a power of attorney for health care or an advance health care directive is in effect, unless there is a court order to the contrary, a health care decision of an agent takes precedence over that of the guardian and the guardian shall cooperate with the agent to the extent feasible. If a power of attorney for finances is in effect, unless there is a court order to the contrary, a decision by the agent that the agent is authorized to make under the power of attorney for finances takes precedence over that of the guardian and the guardian shall cooperate with the agent to the extent feasible.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-315
- Adult: means an individual at least 18 years of age or an emancipated individual under 18 years of age. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-102
- Adult subject to guardianship: means an adult for whom a guardian has been appointed under this Act. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-102
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Guardian: includes a coguardian but does not include a guardian ad litem. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-102
- in writing: include printing and other modes of making legible words. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
- Person: means an individual, estate, business or nonprofit entity, public corporation, government or governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality or other legal entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-102
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
- Protective arrangement instead of guardianship: means a court order entered under section 5?502. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-102
- State: includes an Indian tribe or band recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 18-C Sec. 5-102
2. Commitment to mental health facility. A guardian for an adult may not initiate the commitment of the adult to a mental health facility except in accordance with the State‘s procedure for involuntary civil commitment under Title 34?B, chapter 3, subchapter 4, article 3.
[PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
3. Restrictions on contact. A guardian for an adult may not restrict the ability of the adult to communicate, visit or interact with others, including receiving visitors or making or receiving telephone calls, personal mail or electronic communications, including through social media, or participating in social activities, unless:
A. Authorized by the court by specific order; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
B. A protective order or a protective arrangement instead of guardianship is in effect that limits contact between the adult and a person; or [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
C. The guardian has good cause to believe restriction is necessary because interaction with the person poses a risk of significant physical, psychological or financial harm to the adult. The guardian shall provide a notice, orally and in writing, of the restriction to the adult subject to guardianship immediately upon imposition of the restriction and shall provide written notice of the restriction to all other persons entitled to notice under section 5?310, subsection 5 within 7 days of imposition of the restriction. Notice must include a description of the restriction, contact information of the court and the right to object to the restriction. [PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §43 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §43 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]
4. Application to existing guardianships.
[PL 2021, c. 500, §2 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. F, §1 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. A, §§43, 44 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF). PL 2021, c. 500, §2 (AMD).