Rhode Island General Laws 33-15-4.1. Good Samaritan guardians
(a) Any person who files a petition for a guardianship of the person pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may also file to be qualified as a good Samaritan guardian. A good Samaritan guardian may be appointed by the probate court in those instances where the court determines that the estate of a proposed ward is insufficient to pay for the services of a guardian and that such an appointment would otherwise be in the best interests of the individual for whom the guardianship is proposed.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 33-15-4.1
- 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.
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Probate: Proving a will
(b) A person filing for appointment of a good Samaritan guardianship shall file all the forms required by this chapter to initiate a guardianship petition and shall file an additional form setting forth the qualifications of the proposed guardian to serve as a good Samaritan guardian. Such forms shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
(1) The experience, if applicable, of the proposed guardian;
(2) The willingness of the proposed guardian to serve as said good Samaritan guardian; and
(3) A statement that if appointed as a good Samaritan guardian, such person shall not seek any fees and/or monetary compensation for their services as a good Samaritan; provided, that this shall not be construed to prohibit the good Samaritan guardian from soliciting and/or utilizing charitable donations for and on behalf of the individual under guardianship.
(c) The appointment of a good Samaritan guardian shall be in the discretion of the probate court.
(d) Except as otherwise provided for herein, hearings on and notice of the application for and appointment of a good Samaritan guardianship shall proceed in the same manner as any other petition for guardianship pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1999, ch. 494, § 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 299, § 3; P.L. 2008, ch. 419, § 3.