(A) A guardian or conservator appointed in this State may petition the court to transfer the guardianship or conservatorship to another state.
(B) Notice of a petition pursuant to subsection (A) must be given to the persons that would be entitled to notice of a petition in this State for the appointment of a guardian or conservator.
(C) On the court's own motion or on request of the guardian or conservator, the ward or protected person, or other person required to be notified of the petition, the court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (A), except that a hearing must not be required if a consent order is signed by all parties who have pled, defended, or otherwise participated in the proceeding, as provided by the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.
(D) The court shall issue an order provisionally granting a petition to transfer a guardianship and shall direct the guardian to petition for guardianship in the other state if the court is satisfied that the guardianship will be accepted by the court in the other state and the court finds that:
(1) the ward is physically present in or is reasonably expected to move permanently to the other state;
(2) an objection to the transfer has not been made or, if an objection has been made, the objector has not established that the transfer would be contrary to the interests of the ward; and
(3) plans for care and services for the ward in the other state are reasonable and sufficient.
(E) The court shall issue a provisional order granting a petition to transfer a conservatorship and shall direct the conservator to petition for conservatorship in the other state if the court is satisfied that the conservatorship will be accepted by the court of the other state and the court finds that:
(1) the protected person is physically present in or is reasonably expected to move permanently to the other state, or the protected person has a significant connection to the other state considering the factors provided in Section 62-5-707;
(2) an objection to the transfer has not been made or, if an objection has been made, the objector has not established that the transfer would be contrary to the interests of the protected person; and
(3) adequate arrangements will be made for management of the protected person's property.
(F) The court shall issue a final order confirming the transfer and terminating the guardianship or conservatorship upon its receipt of:
(1) a provisional order accepting the proceeding from the court to which the proceeding is to be transferred which is issued under provisions similar to Section 62-5-715; and
(2) the documents required to terminate a guardianship or conservatorship in this State.
HISTORY: 2010 Act No. 213, Section 1, eff January 1, 2011; 2017 Act No. 87 (S.415), Section 5.B, eff January 1, 2019.
Editor's Note
2010 Act No. 213, Section 4, provides as follows:
"The provisions of this act take effect on January 1, 2011, and apply to guardianship and protective proceedings begun on or after that date."
Effect of Amendment
2017 Act No. 87, Section 5.B, in (C), substituted "ward" for "incapacitated", and substituted "a hearing must not" for "no hearing shall"; in (D), three times substituted "ward" for "incapacitated person"; and in (E)(1), deleted "(2)(b)" from the Section reference at the end.