(a)
(1) Any person owning lands in this state and whose spouse is adjudged insane may apply by petition to the circuit court of the county where the lands are situated for leave to sell the real estate, or any part thereof, discharged and unencumbered of the rights of dower or curtesy of the spouse.
(2) The petition shall set forth the insanity of the spouse, the nature and duration thereof, the person with whom and the place at which the spouse may then be residing, the nature and object of the conveyance desired to be made, describing the real estate and giving the name of the person to whom the conveyance is intended to be made, and the consideration thereof, and that the intention of the conveyance is not to deprive the spouse of dower or curtesy, as the case may be, but to dispose of the real estate in the usual and ordinary course of business.
(b) On the filing of the petition, the court shall appoint some reliable and disinterested citizen not related to either of the parties, nor interested directly or indirectly in the real estate or any part thereof described in the petition as guardian ad litem for the defendant. The guardian ad litem shall forthwith cause the appearance of the defendant to be entered of record in the case from time to time and make such pleadings in the case as may seem fit to him or her for the interest of his or her ward and be consistent with the practice of the court. All acts of the guardian ad litem shall be deemed valid and binding on the defendant.