<section number="75-5-301.5"><effdate>5/6/2026</effdate><histories><history>Amended by Chapter <modchap sess="2026GS">265</modchap>, 2026 General Session</history><modyear>2026</modyear></histories><catchline>Rights of a person alleged to be incapacitated -- Rights of an incapacitated person.</catchline><subsection number="75-5-301.5(1)">Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or any other law, a person alleged to be incapacitated has the right to:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(1)(a)">be represented by counsel before a guardianship is imposed and have counsel represent the person during the guardianship proceeding, except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="75-5-303(6)(e)">75-5-303(6)(e)</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(1)(b)">receive a copy of all documents filed in a guardianship proceeding;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(1)(c)">have a relative, physician, physician assistant, or any interested person speak about or raise any issue of concern on behalf of the person during the guardianship proceeding;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(1)(d)">receive information about guardianships from the court; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(1)(e)">be treated with respect and dignity.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(2)">For a guardianship granted before May 7, 2025, the rights of an incapacitated person for whom a guardian is appointed are in accordance with the statutory provisions in effect as of the date that the guardianship was granted, including, as applicable, Subsection <xref tempid="466" depth="4" refnumber="75-5-312(1)(c)(i)">75-5-312(1)(c)(i)</xref> unless expressly limited by a court in the order of appointment.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)">Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or any other law, for a guardianship granted on or after May 7, 2025, an incapacitated person for whom a guardian is appointed has the right to:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(a)">have counsel represent the incapacitated person at any time after the guardian is appointed;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(b)">have a relative, physician, physician assistant, or any interested person speak about or raise any issue of concern on behalf of the person in any court hearing about the guardianship;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(c)">receive a copy of all documents filed in court regarding the guardianship;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(d)">receive information about guardianships from the court;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(e)">ask questions and express concerns or complaints about a guardian and the actions of a guardian to the court;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(f)">be granted the greatest degree of freedom possible that is consistent with the reasons for the guardianship;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(g)">be treated with respect and dignity;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(h)">be treated fairly by the incapacitated person's guardian;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(i)">have all services provided by a guardian at a reasonable rate of compensation;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(j)">have a court review any request for payment by a guardian to avoid excessive or unnecessary fees or duplicative billing;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(k)">receive prudent financial management of the incapacitated person's property;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(l)">subject to Subsections <xref depth="4" refnumber="75-5-312(4)(h)">75-5-312(4)(h)</xref> and <xref depth="4" refnumber="75-5-417(4)">75-5-417(4)</xref>, and subject to the exception provided in Subsection <xref tempid="611" depth="4" refnumber="75-5-312(7)(d)">75-5-312(7)(d)</xref>, receive a copy of an accounting report regarding the incapacitated person's estate that is submitted to the court by the guardian under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-312">75-5-312</xref> or the conservator under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-417">75-5-417</xref> if a conservator is appointed for the incapacitated person; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(m)">ask the court to:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(m)(i)">review the management activity of a guardian if a dispute cannot be resolved regarding the guardian's management;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(m)(ii)">continue to review the need for a guardianship or to modify or terminate a guardianship in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-306">75-5-306</xref> and Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-307">75-5-307</xref>; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(3)(m)(iii)">enter an order restoring the incapacitated person's capacity at the earliest possible time in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-306">75-5-306</xref> and Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-307">75-5-307</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(4)">The court may not waive, suspend, or limit a right described in Subsection <xref refnumber="75-5-301.5(3)" depth="4">(3)</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)">Except as otherwise provided by this chapter or any other law, and subject to Subsection <xref refnumber="75-5-301.5(6)" depth="4">(6)</xref>, for a guardianship granted on or after May 7, 2025, an incapacitated person for whom a guardian is appointed has the right, to the extent practicable, to:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(a)">participate in developing an individualized plan for the incapacitated person's care, including:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(a)(i)">managing the incapacitated person's assets and property;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(a)(ii)">determining the incapacitated person's residence; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(a)(iii)">determining the services to be received by the incapacitated person;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(b)">be given consideration in regards to the incapacitated person's current and previously stated desires, preferences for health care and medical treatment, and religious and moral beliefs;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(c)">remain as independent as possible, including giving deference to the incapacitated person's preference for the incapacitated person's residence and standard of living:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(c)(i)">as expressed or demonstrated before a determination of capacity was made; or</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(c)(ii)">as currently expressed or demonstrated by the incapacitated person if the preference is reasonable under the circumstances;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(d)">be able to exercise control over all aspects of the incapacitated person's life that are not granted to the guardian in an order of appointment of a limited guardianship;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(e)">maintain privacy and confidentiality in personal matters, to the extent that privacy and confidentiality does not inhibit the ability of the incapacitated person's guardian to fulfill the guardian's responsibilities or perform the guardian's duties;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(f)">receive telephone calls and personal mail and associate with relatives and acquaintances unless the guardian and the court determine that the association should be restricted or prohibited in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-312.5">75-5-312.5</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(g)">receive timely, effective, and appropriate health care and medical treatment that does not violate the incapacitated person's rights;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(h)">receive an allowance or control a reasonable amount of the incapacitated person's earnings or other income; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(5)(i)">collaborate with the incapacitated person's guardian to use appropriate financial tools to maintain a bank account and manage the incapacitated person's personal money.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(6)">The court may waive or limit a right described in Subsection <xref refnumber="75-5-301.5(5)" depth="4">(5)</xref> if:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(6)(a)">an interested party requests the waiver or limitation; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(6)(b)">the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is a compelling reason for the waiver or limitation.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(7)"><subsection number="75-5-301.5(7)(a)">The rights of an incapacitated person under this section do not abrogate any remedy provided by law.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(7)(b)">This section may not be interpreted in a way that would permit or justify any action that violates a provision in Sections <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-111">76-5-111</xref> through <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-111.4">76-5-111.4</xref> or Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-112.5">76-5-112.5</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(7)(c)">Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or preempt the requirements for protecting health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 50 Pub. L. No. 104-191, 110 Stat. 1936, as amended.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(8)">Any right described in this section may be:<subsection number="75-5-301.5(8)(a)">addressed in a guardianship proceeding; or</subsection><subsection number="75-5-301.5(8)(b)">enforced through a private cause of action.</subsection></subsection></section>