NRS159.0525. Temporary guardian for ward who is unable to respond to substantial and immediate risk of financial loss: Petition for appointment; conditions; required notice; extension; limited powers.

      1.  A petitioner may request the court to appoint a temporary guardian for a ward who is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of financial loss. To support the request, the petitioner must set forth in a petition and present to the court under oath:

      (a) Documentation which shows that the proposed ward faces a substantial and immediate risk of financial loss and lacks capacity to respond to the risk of loss. Such documentation must include, without limitation, a certificate signed by a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in this State or who is employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a letter signed by any governmental agency in this State which conducts investigations or a police report indicating:

             (1) That the proposed ward is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of financial loss;

             (2) Whether the proposed ward can live independently with or without assistance or services; and

             (3) Whether the proposed ward is or has been subjected to abuse, neglect or exploitation;

      (b) A detailed explanation of what risks the proposed ward faces, including, without limitation, termination of utilities or other services because of nonpayment, initiation of eviction or foreclosure proceedings, exploitation or loss of assets as the result of fraud, coercion or undue influence; and

      (c) Facts which show that:

             (1) The petitioner has tried in good faith to notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 by telephone or in writing before the filing of the petition;

             (2) The proposed ward would be exposed to an immediate risk of financial loss if the petitioner were to provide notice to the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 before the court determines whether to appoint a temporary guardian; or

             (3) Giving notice to the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 is not feasible under the circumstances.

      2.  The court may appoint a temporary guardian to serve for 10 days if the court:

      (a) Finds reasonable cause to believe that the proposed ward is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of financial loss; and

      (b) Is satisfied that the petitioner has tried in good faith to notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 or that giving notice to those persons is not feasible under the circumstances, or determines that such notice is not required pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (c) of subsection 1.

      3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, after the appointment of a temporary guardian, the petitioner shall attempt in good faith to notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047, including, without limitation, notice of any hearing to extend the temporary guardianship. If the petitioner fails to make such an effort, the court may terminate the temporary guardianship.

      4.  If, before the appointment of a temporary guardian, the court determined that advance notice was not required pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (c) of subsection 1, the petitioner shall notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 without undue delay, but not later than 48 hours after the appointment of the temporary guardian or not later than 48 hours after the petitioner discovers the existence, identity and location of the persons entitled to notice pursuant to that section. If the petitioner fails to provide such notice, the court may terminate the temporary guardianship.

      5.  Not later than 10 days after the date of the appointment of a temporary guardian pursuant to subsection 2, the court shall hold a hearing to determine the need to extend the temporary guardianship. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, the court may extend the temporary guardianship until a general or special guardian is appointed pursuant to subsection 8 if:

      (a) The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the proposed ward is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of financial loss; and

      (b) The extension of the temporary guardianship is necessary and in the best interests of the proposed ward.

      6.  If the court appoints a temporary guardian or extends the temporary guardianship pursuant to this section, the court shall limit the powers of the temporary guardian to those necessary to respond to the substantial and immediate risk of financial loss, specifically limiting the temporary guardian’s authority to take possession of, close or have access to any accounts of the ward or to sell or dispose of tangible personal property of the ward to only that authority as needed to provide for the ward’s basic living expenses until a general or special guardian can be appointed. The court may freeze any or all of the ward’s accounts to protect such accounts from loss.

      7.  The court may not extend a temporary guardianship pursuant to subsection 5 beyond the initial period of 10 days unless the petitioner demonstrates that:

      (a) The provisions of NRS 159.0475 have been satisfied; or

      (b) Notice by publication pursuant to N.R.C.P. 4(e) is currently being undertaken.

      8.  The court may extend the temporary guardianship, for good cause shown, for not more than two successive 60-day periods, except that the court shall not cause the temporary guardianship to continue longer than 5 months unless extraordinary circumstances are shown.

      (Added to NRS by 2001, 869; A 2003, 1779; 2007, 2029; 2009, 1652; 2013, 914)