Rhode Island General Laws 33-15-47. Forms
The following forms shall be used for the purposes of this chapter:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | PROBATE COURT OF THE | |
COUNTY OF ______ | _________________________________________ | |
No. _________________________________________ | ||
ESTATE OF _________________________________________ | ||
PERSONAL ESTATE ESTIMATED AT $_______________ CITY/TOWN OF | ||
____________ | ||
20__________ |
PETITION FOR LIMITED GUARDIANSHIP
OR GUARDIANSHIP
_______________________________________
Petitioner hereby petitions the Probate Court of the city/town of _______________________________________ to appoint a limited guardian/guardian for _______________________________________ who currently resides at _______________________________________________________________________
Address, in the city/town of _______________________________________ , and whose date of birth is _________________________________________ .
Based upon an assessment conducted by _______________________________________ on _________________________________________
Date, which functional assessment reflects the current level of functioning of _______________________________________
Respondent, it has been determined that _______________________________________
Respondent lacks decision-making ability in one or more of the following areas as indicated:
____ | health care |
____ | financial matters |
____ | residence |
____ | association |
____ | other |
Regarding each area indicated, please describe the specific assistance needed:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Indicate which of the following less restrictive alternatives to guardianship have been explored and deemed inappropriate as indicated:
____ | Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care |
____ | Living Will |
____ | Power of Attorney |
____ | Durable Power of Attorney |
____ | Trusts |
____ | Joint Property Arrangements |
____ | Representative Payee |
____ | Money Management |
____ | Single Court Transactions |
____ | Government Benefit and Social Service Programs |
____ | Housing Options |
____ | Other |
Please describe the basis for the determination that the alternative will not meet the needs of the respondent for each alternative explored and deemed inappropriate:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
The following individual/agency is willing to serve as guardian:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Upon information and belief the above individual/agency has:
? | No conflict of interest that would interfere with guardianship |
duties. | |
? | No criminal background that would interfere with guardian- |
ship duties. | |
? | The capacity to manage financial resources involved. |
? | The ability to meet requirements of law and unique needs of |
individual. | |
? | Demonstrated willingness to undergo training. |
The Respondent has the following heirs at law:
NAME: RESIDENCE:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________ | |
Signature | |
_________________________________________ | |
Name | |
_________________________________________ | |
Address | |
_________________________________________ | |
Telephone |
Subscribed and sworn to before me as to the truth of the above facts by ____ in ____ on the ____ day of ____ , 20__ .
_________________________________________ | |
Notary Public | |
_________________________________________ | |
Print Name |
DECREE
_________________________________________ | _________________________________________ | ||
Dated | PROBATE JUDGE |
This notice should be served at once and returned to the clerk of the court.
NOTICE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
BY THE PROBATE COURT OF THE ______ OF ______
BY THE COUNTY OF _______________________________________ AND STATE AFORESAID
To _______________________________________
Estate or _______________________________________
Docket No. _______________________________________
GREETING:
A petition for Limited Guardianship/Guardianship has been filed in the Probate Court of the city/town of _______________________________________ .
_________________________________________ has requested that the Probate Court appoint
Petitioner
a limited guardian/guardian for you.
A hearing regarding this Petition shall be held
On: _______________________________________________________________________
date
At: _______________________________________________________________________
time
at the Probate Court for the town of _________________________________________ .
_________________________________________
Address
_________________________________________
The Petition requests that the Probate Court consider the qualification of the following individual/agency to serve as your limited guardian/guardian:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
A guardian ad litem will be appointed by the Probate Court to visit you, explain the process and inform you of your rights.
You have the right to attend the hearing to contest the petition, to request that the powers of the guardian be limited or to object to the appointment of particular individual/agency limited guardian/guardian. If you wish to contest the petition, you have the right to be represented by an attorney, at state expense, if you are indigent.
If the Petition is granted and a limited guardian/guardian is appointed, the Probate Court may give the limited guardian/guardian the power to make decisions about one or more of the following:
Your health care; your money; where you live; and with whom you associate.
Copies of this Notice will be mailed to:
The administrator of any care or treatment facility where you live or receive primary services; your spouse, and heirs at law; any individual or entity known to petitioner to be regularly supplying protection services to you.
CERTIFICATION OF SERVICE
I certify that I hand-delivered and read this Notice to _______________________________________ on the ___________ day of _____________________ , 20___________ .
_________________________________________ | |
Signature | |
_________________________________________ | |
Print Name | |
_________________________________________ | |
Address |
CERTIFICATION OF NOTICE
I certify that, as required by Rhode Island General Laws § 33-15-17.1(e), I mailed a copy of this Notice to the following persons, at the addresses listed, on the ___________ day of _____________________ , 20___________ .
_________________________________________ | |
Signature | |
_________________________________________ | |
Print Name | |
_________________________________________ | |
Address |
Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___________ day of _____________________ , 20___________ .
_________________________________________ | |
Notary Public |
WITNESS
Judge of the Probate Court of the _______________________________________ of _______________________________________ this ___________ day of _____________________ , 20___________ .
_________________________________________ | |
Clerk |
DECISION-MAKING ASSESSMENT TOOL
Name of Individual being assessed: Current Address: | ||
_______________________________________ | _________________________________________ | |
_________________________________________ | ||
Date of Birth: | Permanent Address (if different): | |
_______________________________________ | _________________________________________ | |
_________________________________________ |
Instructions for Completion
This document will be used by a Probate Court to determine whether to appoint a guardian to assist this individual in some or all areas of decision-making.
This document has two parts. Please first complete the part which is right after these instructions, titled Assessment. Then complete the second section, titled Summary.
To a physician completing this document: The individual’s treating physician must complete this document. If there is any information of which the treating physician completing this document does not have direct knowledge, he or she is encouraged to make such inquiries of such other persons as are necessary to complete the entire form. Those persons might include other medical personnel such as nurses, or other persons such as family members or social service professionals who are acquainted with the individual. If the physician has received information from others in completing the form, the names of those individuals must be listed on the Summary.
To a non-physician completing this document: Professionals or other persons acquainted with the individual being assessed may also complete this document. If there is information of which a non-physician completing this document does not have knowledge, such non-physician may either leave portions of the document blank, or also make inquiries or do such investigation as is necessary to complete the entire document. Again, the names of any individual from whom information is derived should be listed on the Summary.
The document must be signed and dated by the person completing it. It does not need to be notarized.
A. BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
THE FOLLOWING IS BASED UPON A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION CONDUCTED BY ME ON
____________
(DATE)
1. DIAGNOSIS and PROGNOSIS:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
2. MEDICATION (PLEASE LIST):
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
How do the above medications, if any, affect the individual’s decision-making ability? Please explain:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
3. CURRENT NUTRITIONAL STATUS:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
B. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
1. MEMORY (CIRCLE ONE)
(A) Intact; (B) Mild Impairment; (C) Moderate Impairment; (D) Severe Impairment
2. ATTENTION (CIRCLE ONE)
(A) Intact; (B) Mild Impairment; (C) Shifting/Wandering; (D) Delirium; (E) Unresponsive
3. JUDGMENT (CIRCLE ONE)
(A) Intact; (B) Able to Make Most Decisions; (C) Impaired; (D) Gross Impairment
4. LANGUAGE (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)
(A) Intact (B) Sensory Deficits (Hearing/Speech/Sight)
(C) Impairment In Comprehension/Speech: Mild/Moderate/Severe
(D) Completely Unresponsive
5. EMOTION (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)
(A) ANXIETY/DEPRESSION: (1) None (2) History of Anxiety/Depression
(3) Moderate Symptoms of Anxiety/Depression
(4) Severe symptoms with sleep/appetite/energy disturbance
(5) Suicide/Homicidal
(B) OTHER: (1) Suspiciousness/Belligerence/Explosiveness
(2) Delusions/Hallucinations (3) Unresponsive
If you circled any of the above, other than (A) or (1) for any of the above categories, please explain whether the situation is treatable or reversible, and if so, how:
C. SOCIAL ASSESSMENT
1. MOBILITY (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)
(A) Intact/Exercises (B) Drives Car Or Uses Public Transportation
(C) Independent Ambulation in Home Only; (D) Walker/Cane; (E) Requires Assistance
If you circled (C), (D), or (E), is situation treatable or reversible? If so, how?
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
2. SELF CARE (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)
(A) No Assistance Needed;
(B) Requires Assistance with (1) Meals (2) Bathing (3) Dressing (4) Toileting/Feeding
If you circled any of (B), is individual aware that assistance is required? _________________________________________
Is individual willing to accept assistance? _________________________________________
Is individual able to arrange for assistance? _________________________________________
3. CARE PLAN MAINTENANCE (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY)
(A) No Active Problem; (B) Initiates Problem Identification; (C) Actively Cooperative; (D) Passively Cooperative; (E) Passively Uncooperative; (F) Actively Uncooperative
4. SOCIAL NETWORK RELATIONSHIPS
(CIRCLE ONE IN (A) AND IN ONE IN (B))
(A) SUPPORT:
(1) Very Good Supportive Network; (2) Some Support From Family And Friends; (3) No Or Limited Support From Family/Friends; (4) Needs Community Support; (5) Isolated/Homebound
(B) SOCIAL SKILLS:
(1) Very Good Social Skills; (2) Good Social Skills; (3) Interacts With Prompting; (4) Isolated
D. SUMMARY
I hereby certify that I have reviewed sections A, B, & C attached hereto and based on such assessments that the individual’s decision-making ability is as follows:
(1) PLEASE DESCRIBE AS FULLY AS YOU CAN THE INDIVIDUAL’S DECISION-MAKING ABILITY IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
A. FINANCIAL MATTERS
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
B. HEALTH CARE MATTERS
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
C. RELATIONSHIPS
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
D. RESIDENTIAL MATTERS
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(2) PLEASE INDICATE YOUR OPINION REGARDING WHETHER THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS A SUBSTITUTE DECISION-MAKER IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS: (Circle one for each category. If you circle “limited” for any category, please explain.)
(1) FINANCIAL MATTERS Yes No Limited
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(2) HEALTH CARE MATTERS Yes No Limited
_________________________________________
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_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(3) RELATIONSHIPS Yes No Limited
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(4) RESIDENTIAL MATTERS Yes No Limited
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(5) OTHER: If there are any other areas in which you think the individual lacks decision-making ability or has limited decision-making ability, please explain.
_________________________________________
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_________________________________________
_________________________________________ | |
Signature | |
_________________________________________ | |
Name (Print or Type) | |
_________________________________________ | |
Title | |
_________________________________________ | |
Date |
Names and titles of others who assisted in Preparation of This Assessment.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | PROBATE COURT OF THE |
COUNTY OF _______ | |
Estate of _________________________________________ | Docket No. _________________________________________ |
ANNUAL STATUS REPORT
(1) The residence of the ward is _________________________________________
(2) The medical condition of the ward is:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(3) I perceive the following changes in the decision making capacity of the ward:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(4) The following is a summary of the actions I have taken and decisions I have made on behalf of the ward during the last year:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
(If more space is needed, please attach a supplement).
_________________________________________ | ||
Guardian | ||
_________________________________________ | ||
Date | ||
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | PROBATE COURT OF | |
COUNTY OF | THE _________________________________________ | |
(Estate Name) _______ | ||
Probate Court No. ___________ |
REPORT OF THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM
Now comes (Name of Guardian Ad Litem) for (Name of Proposed Ward) and reports that on (Date), I personally visited the proposed ward at (Address). I explained to (Name of Proposed Ward) the following:
* The nature, purpose, and legal effect of the appointment of a guardian;
* The hearing procedure, including, but not limited to, the right to contest the petition, to request limits on the guardian’s powers, to object to a particular person being appointed guardian, to be present at the hearing, and to be represented by legal counsel;
* The name of the person known to be seeking appointment as guardian:
Based on such visit and the respondent’s reaction thereto, I make the following determination regarding the respondent’s desire to be present at the hearing, to contest the petition, to have limits placed on the guardian’s powers and respondent’s objection, if any, to a particular person being appointed as guardian.
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Based on my review of the petition, the decision making assessment tool, my interview with the prospective guardian, my visit with the respondent, and interviews and discussions with other parties, I made the following additional determinations:
Regarding whether the respondent is in need of a guardian of the type prayed for in the petition:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Regarding whether the guardian ad litem has, in the course of fulfilling his or her duties, discovered information concerning the suitability of the individual or entity to serve as such guardian:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Respectfully submitted, | ||
Date: _________________________________________ | _________________________________________ | |
(Name of Guardian Ad Litem) |
History of Section.
P.L. 1992, ch. 493, § 4; P.L. 1994, ch. 359, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 110, § 9.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 33-15-47
- Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
- 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
- town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9