<section number="75-5-609"><effdate>5/7/2025</effdate><histories><history>Enacted by Chapter <modchap sess="2025GS">543</modchap>, 2025 General Session</history><modyear>2025</modyear></histories><catchline>Findings by court -- Appointment of guardian -- Acceptance of appointment.</catchline><subsection number="75-5-609(1)">The court may appoint a guardian for a respondent if the court finds:<subsection number="75-5-609(1)(a)">the respondent is an individual with a severe intellectual disability; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(1)(b)">the appointment of a guardian is necessary or desirable as a means of providing continuing care to the respondent.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(2)">If the court appoints a guardian as described in Subsection (1), the court shall:<subsection number="75-5-609(2)(a)">appoint a guardian for the respondent in accordance with Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-610">75-5-610</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(2)(b)">prefer a full guardianship for the respondent; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(2)(c)">specify in the order of appointment that:<subsection number="75-5-609(2)(c)(i)">the respondent is an individual with a severe intellectual disability; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(2)(c)(ii)">the respondent does not have capacity to execute or consent to any contract or written agreement.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(3)"><subsection number="75-5-609(3)(a)">If the court orders a limited guardianship for a respondent:<subsection number="75-5-609(3)(a)(i)">the respondent is entitled to the rights described in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-301.5">75-5-301.5</xref> for an incapacitated person; and</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(3)(a)(ii)">the court shall state the limitations of the guardianship and the rights to which the respondent is entitled in the order of appointment.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(4)">If the court grants a guardian with the power to make or assist with health care decisions for a respondent, the court shall include in the order of appointment the name of any interested person whom the guardian must notify of any significant health care or treatment received by the individual.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(5)"><subsection number="75-5-609(5)(a)">By accepting an appointment, a guardian submits personally to the jurisdiction of the court in any proceeding relating to the guardianship that may be instituted by any interested person or any person interested in the welfare of the respondent.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(5)(b)">Notice of any proceeding shall be delivered to the guardian or mailed to the guardian by ordinary mail at the guardian's address as listed in the court records and to the guardian's address as known to the petitioner at the time of the appointment.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(6)">If the court orders a limited guardianship for an individual with a severe intellectual disability, the guardian has the same duties, powers, and rights described in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-312">75-5-312</xref> for a guardian of an incapacitated person.</subsection><subsection number="75-5-609(7)">If the court orders a full guardianship for an individual with a severe intellectual disability, the guardian has the duties, powers, and rights described in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="75-5-611">75-5-611</xref>.</subsection></section>