(1)(a) The court shall appoint a visitor upon the filing of a petition in a protective proceeding that seeks the appointment of:

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(A) A guardian for an adult respondent;

(B) A guardian for a minor respondent who is more than 16 years of age, in cases where the court determines there is the likelihood that a petition seeking appointment of a guardian for the respondent as an adult will be filed before the date that the respondent attains majority, in accordance with ORS § 125.055 (6)(a), or as an adult; or

(C) A temporary fiduciary who will exercise the powers of a guardian for an adult respondent.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, if a petition in a protective proceeding seeks the appointment of a guardian for a respondent because the respondent is, or, if the respondent is a minor, will be a vulnerable youth, the court in its discretion may appoint a visitor.

(c) The court may appoint a visitor in any other protective proceeding or in a proceeding under ORS § 109.329.

(2) A visitor may be an officer, employee or special appointee of the court. The person appointed may not have any personal interest in the proceedings. The person appointed must have training or expertise adequate to allow the person to appropriately evaluate the functional capacity and needs of a respondent or protected person, or each petitioner and the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329. The court shall provide a copy of the petition and other filings in the proceedings that may be of assistance to the visitor.

(3) A visitor appointed by the court under this section shall interview a person nominated or appointed as fiduciary and the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner and the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, personally at the place where the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, is located.

(4) Subject to any law relating to confidentiality, the visitor may interview any physician, naturopathic physician or psychologist who has examined the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner under ORS § 109.329, the person or officer of the institution having the care, custody or control of the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner under ORS § 109.329, and any other person who may have relevant information.

(5) If requested by a visitor under subsection (4) of this section, a physician, naturopathic physician or psychologist who has examined the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner under ORS § 109.329, may, with patient authorization or, in the case of a minor respondent, with the authorization of the minor’s parent or the person having custody of the minor, or in response to a court order in accordance with ORCP 44 or a subpoena under ORCP 55, provide any relevant information the physician, naturopathic physician or psychologist has regarding the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner under ORS § 109.329.

(6) A visitor shall determine whether it appears that the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, is able to attend the hearing and, if able to attend, whether the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, is willing to attend the hearing.

(7) If a petition is filed seeking the appointment of a guardian for an adult respondent, a visitor shall investigate the following matters:

(a) The inability of the respondent to provide for the needs of the respondent with respect to physical health, food, clothing and shelter;

(b) The location of the respondent’s residence and the ability of the respondent to live in the residence while under guardianship;

(c) Alternatives to guardianship considered by the petitioner and reasons why those alternatives are not available;

(d) Health or social services provided to the respondent during the year preceding the filing of the petition, when the petitioner has information as to those services;

(e) The inability of the respondent to resist fraud or undue influence; and

(f) Whether the respondent’s inability to provide for the needs of the respondent is an isolated incident of negligence or improvidence, or whether a pattern exists.

(8) If a petition is filed seeking the appointment of a fiduciary, a visitor shall determine whether the respondent objects to:

(a) The appointment of a fiduciary; and

(b) The nominated fiduciary or prefers another person to act as fiduciary.

(9) If a petition is filed seeking the appointment of a conservator in addition to the appointment of a guardian, a visitor shall investigate whether the respondent is financially incapable. The visitor shall interview the person nominated to act as conservator and shall interview the respondent personally at the place where the respondent is located.

(10) A visitor shall determine whether the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, wishes to be represented by counsel and, if so, whether the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, has retained counsel and, if not, the name of an attorney the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, wishes to retain.

(11) If the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, has not retained counsel, a visitor shall determine whether the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, desires the court to appoint counsel.

(12) If the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329, does not plan to retain counsel and has not requested the appointment of counsel by the court, a visitor shall determine whether the appointment of counsel would help to resolve the matter and whether appointment of counsel is necessary to protect the interests of the respondent or protected person, or each petitioner or the person to be adopted under ORS § 109.329. [1995 c.664 § 16; 2003 c.89 § 1; 2003 c.227 § 5; 2003 c.579 3,4; 2015 c.176 § 1; 2017 c.356 § 10; 2021 c.399 § 9]