ENROLLED
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
H. B. 2472
(By Delegates Staton, Coleman, Faircloth, Givens,
Mahan, Pino and Smirl)
[Passed March 12, 1999; in effect ninety days from passage.]
AN ACT to amend chapter forty-four-a of the code of West Virginia,
one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding
thereto a new article, designated article five, relating to
the creation of standby guardianship; defining terms; setting
forth the procedures and requirements for petitions with the
circuit court for standby guardianship; requiring that notice
be given of any petition filed; providing that an evidentiary
hearing be held prior to approval of a standby guardian under
certain circumstances; requiring the circuit court to appoint
a guardian ad litem prior to any hearing held where the
petition is filed by anyone other than the child's parent;
setting forth the factors necessary prior to approving a
standby guardianship and the form of any order of approval;
requiring service of the order; requiring the standby guardian to file a copy of the qualified parent's death certificate,
determination of incompetence or consent when his or her
authority commences; providing for the written designation of
a standby guardianship by a parent; requiring a standby
guardian authorized by a written designation to file a
petition for approval after the commencement of his authority;
providing for institution of proceedings to determine
permanent guardianship; establishing procedures for revocation
and refusal; and providing that the standby guardian's
authority continues until it is revoked by the qualified
parent or rescinded by the circuit court.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That chapter forty-four-a of the code of West Virginia, one
thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding
thereto a new article, designated article five, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. STANDBY GUARDIANSHIP.
§44A-5-1. Title.
This article may be cited as the "Standby Guardianship Act."
§44A-5-2. Definitions.
(a) "Attending physician" means the physician who has primary
responsibility for the treatment and care of a qualified parent.
(b) "Designation" means a writing that is: (i) Voluntarily
executed in conformance with the requirements of section five of this article, signed by a parent; and (ii) names a person to act as
standby guardian.
(c) "Determination of debilitation" means a written
determination made by an attending physician that a qualified
parent is chronically and substantially unable to care for a minor
child as a result of a debilitating illness, disease or injury.
Such a determination shall include the physician's medical opinion
to a reasonable degree of medical certainty regarding the nature,
cause, extent and probable duration of the parent's debilitating
condition.
(d) "Determination of incompetence" means a written
determination made by the attending physician that to a reasonable
degree of medical certainty a qualified parent is chronically and
substantially unable to understand the nature and consequences of
decisions concerning the care of a minor child as a result of a
mental or organic impairment and consequently is unable to care for
the child. Such a determination shall include the physician's
medical opinion, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty,
regarding the nature, cause, extent and probable duration of the
parent's incompetence.
(e) "Functional parent" means a person other than a biological
or adoptive parent, who is performing daily caretaking functions
for the child.
(f) "Parent" means a biological or adoptive parent and
includes a person, other than a parent, who has physical custody of
a child and who has either been awarded custody by a court or
claims a right to custody.
(g) "Petition" means a writing that is voluntarily executed
and filed in the circuit court of the county in which the child
resides in conformance with the requirements of section three of
this article.
(h) "Qualified parent" means a parent who has been diagnosed,
as evidenced in writing, by a licensed physician to be afflicted
with a progressive or chronic condition caused by injury, disease
or illness from which, to a reasonable degree of medical
probability, the patient cannot recover and that is likely to lead
to debilitation or incompetence.
(i) "Standby guardian" means a person who, in accordance with
this article, is designated in writing or approved by the circuit
court to temporarily assume the duties of guardian of the person or
property, or both, of a minor child, on behalf of or in conjunction
with a qualified parent, upon the occurrence of a triggering event.
A standby guardianship shall be so construed as to enable the
parent to plan for the future of a child, without terminating
parental or legal rights by creating coguardianship rights between
a parent and a standby guardian who has the authority to act in a manner consistent with the known wishes of a qualified parent
regarding the care, custody and support of the minor child.
(j) "Triggering event" means the event upon the occurrence of
which the standby guardian may be authorized to act. The triggering
event shall be specified in a court order or written designation
and shall be the earlier of a determination of incompetence or the
death of a qualified parent. In the case of a standby guardian
judicially approved pursuant to section three of this article, the
triggering event may also be specified as the qualified parent's
written consent to the commencement of the standby guardian's
authority. In the case of a standby guardian designated pursuant
to section five of this article, the triggering event may also be
specified as: (i) A determination of debilitation of the qualified
parent; and (ii) that parent's written consent to the commencement
of the designated standby guardian's authority.
§44A-5-3. Petition for approval of standby guardian; fees.
(a) Upon petition of a parent, functional parent or any
person acting on parent's behalf, the circuit court of the county
in which a child resides may approve a person as standby guardian
for a child of a qualified parent upon the occurrence of a specific
triggering event. If requested in the petition, the court may also
approve an alternate standby guardian identified by the petitioner,
to act in the event the standby guardian is unable or unwilling to assume the responsibilities of the standby guardianship.
(b) The petition shall include:
(1) The name and address of the petitioner and his or her
relationship to the child, the name and address of the child's
qualified parent, and the name and address of any other parent of
the child whose identity and whereabouts are known to the
petitioner or can reasonably be ascertained;
(2) The name, address and birth date of the child;
(3) The nature of the proposed triggering event and, if
written consent is chosen as the proposed triggering event, any
factors or circumstances that must be present before the qualified
parent's written consent is effective;
(4) Whether a determination of incompetence or debilitation
has been made and, if so, when and by whom;
(5) Whether there is a significant risk that the qualified
parent will die imminently or become physically or mentally
incapable of caring for the child or die as a result of a
progressive chronic condition or illness; however, a petitioner
shall not be required to submit medical documentation of a parent's
medical status with the petition;
(6) The name and address of the person proposed as standby
guardian and any alternate standby guardian, and if the parent is
competent, that the qualified parent approves of the persons proposed;
(7) Whether the petitioner requests that the person proposed
as standby guardian be given authority as a guardian of the person
or guardian of the property of the minor, or both;
(8) A statement of any known reasons why the child's other
parent is not assuming or should not assume the responsibilities of
a standby guardian;
(9) Whether there is any prior judicial history or pending
litigation regarding custody of the child; and
(10) The name and address of the attending physician.
(c) Upon filing of a petition, notice of the filing must be
promptly given to each parent of the child whose identity and
whereabouts are known to the petitioner, the child, if he or she is
fourteen or more years of age, the proposed standby guardian and
alternate, if any.
(1) The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the petition
and shall be mailed by certified mail return receipt requested, by
the petitioner.
(2) The notice should include a statement that no change in
custody or other legal rights is effected by the appointment of a
standby guardian and that it is not necessary for the recipient of
the notice to appear. The notice should also state that any parent
may request a hearing on the petition provided that such request is made within ten days from the date the notice was sent.
(d) A hearing must be held prior to any order approving the
standby guardianship if there is another known parent who requests
a hearing within ten days of the date that notice of filing was
sent or if there is other litigation pending regarding the custody
of the child.
(e) Prior to any hearing on the petition, the circuit court
may appoint a discreet and competent attorney at law as guardian ad
litem to represent the child pursuant to section ten, article four,
chapter fifty-six of this code. If the petition for standby
guardianship is filed by anyone other than a parent of the child,
the circuit court shall appoint a guardian ad litem. The qualified
parent shall not be required to appear at the hearing if he or she
is medically unable to appear, except upon motion for good cause
shown.
§44A-5-4. Circuit court's order approving standby guardianship;
authority; when effective.
(a) When a petition is filed by a person other than a parent
having custody of the child, the standby guardian may be appointed
only with the consent of the qualified parent unless the circuit
court finds that such consent cannot be given for medical reasons.
(b) Upon consideration of the factors set out in subsection
(b), section three of this article and finding that: (i) The child's parent is a qualified parent; and (ii) appointment of a
standby guardian is in the best interest of the child, the circuit
court shall appoint the person requested in the petition as standby
guardian, and, if requested, the requested alternate standby
guardian. However, when a petition is filed by a person other than
a parent having custody of the child, the standby guardian shall be
appointed only with the consent of the qualified parent unless the
court finds that such consent cannot be given for medical reasons.
(c) The order shall specify the triggering event and shall
provide that the authority of the standby guardian is effective:
(i) Upon receipt of either a determination of incompetence or a
certificate of death; or (ii) if so requested in the petition, upon
receipt by the standby guardian of the qualified parent's written
consent and filing of this consent with the circuit court. The
written consent shall be executed after the entry of the court
order and signed by the qualified parent, or by another in his or
her presence and on his or her behalf.
(d) As soon as practicable after entry of the order, a copy
shall be served on the standby guardian.
(e) A standby guardian shall have the powers and duties of a
guardian of the person and guardian of the property of a minor,
unless otherwise specified in the order.
(f) The standby guardian shall file with the circuit court as soon as practicable but in no event later than thirty days
following a parent's death, determination of incompetence or
consent, a copy of the certificate of death, determination of
incompetence or consent of the qualified parent upon which the
standby authority is based and a determination of debilitation.
Failure to file within the time specified shall be grounds for the
circuit court to rescind the authority of the standby guardian upon
petition of any person, but all acts undertaken by the standby
guardian on behalf of and in the interests of the child be valid
and enforceable until authority is rescinded.
§44A-5-5. Written designation of a standby guardian by a parent;
commencement of authority; approval required.
(a) A parent may execute a written designation of a standby
guardian at anytime. The written designation shall be signed by
the parent, witnessed by two adults. Another adult may sign the
written designation on behalf of the parent if the parent is
physically unable to do so, provided the designation is signed at
the express request of the parent and in the presence of the
parent. The designated standby guardian or alternate may not sign
on behalf of the parent. The signed designation shall be delivered
to the standby guardian and any alternate named as soon as
practicable. The written designation shall state:
(1) The name, address and birth date of the child affected;
(2) The triggering event; and
(3) The name and address of the person designated as standby
guardian or alternate.
(b) Following such delivery of the designation, the authority
of a standby guardian to act for a qualified parent shall commence
upon the occurrence of the specified triggering event and receipt
by him or her of: (i) A determination of incompetence; (ii) a
certificate of death of the parent; or (iii) a determination of
debilitation and the qualified parent's written consent to such
commencement signed by the parent or another on his behalf and at
his direction as provided in subsection (a) of this section for the
designation.
(c) A standby guardian under a designation shall have the
authority of a guardian of the person and a guardian of the
property of the child, unless otherwise specified in the
designation.
(d) A designated standby guardian or alternate shall file a
petition for approval with the circuit court as soon as practicable
after the occurrence of the triggering event but in no event later
than thirty days after the date of the commencement of his or her
authority. The authority of the standby guardian shall cease upon his or her failure to so file, but shall recommence upon such
filing. The petition shall be accompanied by a copy of the
designation and a: (i) Determination of incompetence; (ii)
determination of debilitation and consent,; or (iii) a certificate
of death.
(e) The notice provisions of subsection (c), section three of
this article shall apply to a petition filed pursuant to this
section. The circuit court shall enter in an order approving the
designated guardian upon finding that:
(1) The person was duly designated as standby guardian
pursuant to the section and the designation has not been revoked;
(2) A determination of incompetence was made; a determination
of debilitation was made and the parent consented to commencement
of the standby guardian's authority; or the parent has died;
(3) The best interests of the child will be served by approval
of the standby guardian; and
(4) If the petition is by an alternate, that the designated
standby guardian is unwilling or unable to serve.
§44A-5-6. Further proceedings to determine permanent guardianship.
(a) If the triggering event was death of the qualified parent,
the standby guardian shall within ninety days of such death, petition for appointment of a guardian for the child as otherwise
provided by law or may initiate proceedings to determine legal and
physical custody of the child pursuant to article four, chapter
forty-eight, or both.
(b) In all other cases a standby guardian shall promptly after
occurrence of the triggering event initiate such proceedings to
determine guardianship and custody, absent objection by the
qualified parent.
(c) The petition shall be accompanied by:
(1) The circuit court's order approving the standby guardian
or the qualified parent's written designation of the standby
guardian; and
(2) (i) The attending physician's written determination of
incompetence or debilitation,;,; or (ii) certificate of death.
§44A-5-7. Revocation, refusal and termination of standby
guardianship.
(a) The authority of a standby guardian approved by the
circuit court may be revoked by the qualified parent by his or her
filing a notice of revocation with the circuit court. The notice of
revocation shall identify the standby guardian or alternate standby
guardian to which the revocation will apply. A copy of the revocation shall also be delivered to the standby guardian whose
authority is revoked and any alternate standby guardian who may
then be authorized to act. At any time following his or her
approval by the circuit court, a standby guardian may decline to
serve by filing a written statement of refusal with the court and
having the statement personally served on the qualified parent and
any alternate standby guardian who may then be authorized to act.
(b) When a written designation has been executed, but is not
yet effective because the triggering event has not yet occurred,
the parent may revoke or the prospective standby guardian may
refuse the designation by notifying the other party in writing. A
written designation may also be revoked by the subsequent execution
of an inconsistent designation.
(c) When a standby guardian's authority is effective upon
debilitation or incompetence of the qualified parent, the standby
guardian's authority to act on behalf of the parent continues after
the parent is restored to health unless the qualified parent
notifies the guardian and, if appropriate, the county commission,
in writing, that the standby guardian's authority is revoked. If at
any time the circuit court finds that the parent no longer meets
the definition of "qualified parent," it shall rescind its approval of the standby guardian.
§44A-5-8. Review of standby guardianship.
A child's parent, stepparent, functional parent, adult sibling
or any adult related to the child by blood or marriage may petition
the circuit court that approved the standby guardian at any time
following such approval for review of whether continuation of the
standby guardianship is in the best interest of the child. Notice
of the filing of a petition for review shall promptly be given to
the standby guardian, the child if the child is fourteen or more
years of age, and each parent of the child whose identity and
whereabouts are known or could reasonably be ascertained.