Title 26 — Title 26

This chapter may be cited as the Alabama Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act. History: (Acts 1987, No. 87-590, p. 975, §1-101.)

Writing. (a) The parent of an unmarried incapacitated person may appoint by will, or other writing signed by the parent and attested by at least two witnesses or acknowledged, a guardian of the incapacitated person. If both parents are dead or the surviving parent is adjudged inc…

The venue for guardianship proceedings for an incapacitated person is in the place where the incapacitated person resides or is present at the time the proceedings are commenced. If the incapacitated person is admitted to an institution pursuant to order of a court of competent j…

(a) Except as provided by subsection (e), an incapacitated person or any person interested in the welfare of the incapacitated person may petition for appointment of a limited or general guardian. (b) After the filing of a petition, the court shall set a date for hearing on the i…

(a) Except as provided in Section 26-2A-107.1, in a proceeding for the appointment of a guardian of an incapacitated person, notice of hearing shall be given to each of the following: (1) The respondent, the respondent’s spouse, if any, and adult children, or if none, parents. (2…

(a) Any qualified person may be appointed guardian of an incapacitated person. (b) Unless lack of qualification or other good cause dictates the contrary, the court shall appoint a guardian in accordance with the incapacitated person’s most recent nomination in a durable power of…

(a) The term “developmentally disabled” means a person whose impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior which is manifested before the person attains the age of 22 and results in intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy or autism and as defined i…

(a) The court shall exercise the authority conferred in this division so as to encourage the development of maximum self-reliance and independence of the incapacitated person and make appointive and other orders only to the extent necessitated by the incapacitated person’s mental…

By accepting 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. Notice of any proceeding must be delivered or mailed to the guardian at the address listed in t…

[Effective until January 1, 2027.] THIS SECTION WAS REPEALED BY ACT 2026-488, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027. (a) If an incapacitated person has no guardian, an emergency exists, and no other person appears to have authority to act in the circumstances, on appropriate petition the cou…

(a) Except as limited pursuant to Section 26-2A-105(c), a guardian of an incapacitated person is responsible for health, support, education, or maintenance of the ward, but is not liable to third persons by reason of that responsibility for acts of the ward. In particular and wit…

The authority and responsibility of a guardian of an incapacitated person terminates upon the death of the guardian or ward, the determination of incapacity of the guardian, upon transfer to another state as provided in Section 26-2B-301, or upon removal or resignation as provide…

(a) On petition of the ward or any person interested in the ward’s welfare, or on its own motion, the court, after hearing, may remove a guardian if to do so is in the best interest of the ward. On petition of the guardian, the court, after hearing, may accept a resignation. (b) …

(a) The court at the place where the ward resides has concurrent jurisdiction with the court that appointed the guardian or in which acceptance of a parental or spousal appointment was filed over resignation, removal, accounting, and other proceedings relating to the guardianship…

For the purposes of this division, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) RELATIVE. A sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild of a ward or a person who shares this same relationship through adoption or a spouse of the ward. (2) VISITATION. Any in-person m…

(a) A relative may file a petition with the court to compel visitation with a ward from whom he or she has been isolated. (b) The petition shall be filed in the court having jurisdiction over the guardianship of the ward. (c) On motion of either the petitioner or the guardian or …

Before ruling on the petition, the court may order the Department of Human Resources or the court representative to do any or all of the following: (1) Conduct interviews with the following: a. The ward b. All petitioners. c. The relatives of the ward. d. To the extent practical,…

(a) In ruling on the petition, the court shall conduct a hearing to determine whether the ward has sufficient capacity to make a knowing and intelligent visitation decision based on evidence presented. (b) If the court determines that the ward has sufficient capacity to make a kn…

(a) Except as provided under subsection (b), provided the relative has supplied the guardian with his or her current contact information, the guardian shall as soon as practicable inform relatives of any of the following: (1) The ward dies. (2) The ward is admitted to a medical f…

The court has continuing jurisdiction to revoke or modify an order made pursuant to this division upon a petition filed, noticed, and heard in the same manner as the original petition was filed. History: (Act 2016-404, §2.)

(a) Upon petition and after notice and hearing in accordance with the provisions of this division, the court may appoint a conservator or make any other protective order for cause as provided in this section. (b) Appointment of a conservator or other protective order may be made …

Persons. Subject to Section 26-2A-31, after the service of notice in a proceeding seeking the appointment of a conservator or other protective order and until termination of the proceeding, the court in which the petition is filed has: (1) Exclusive jurisdiction to determine the …

Venue for proceedings under this division is: (1) In the court at the place in this state where the person to be protected resides whether or not a guardian has been appointed in another place; or (2) If the person to be protected does not reside in this state, in the court at an…

(a) The person to be protected or any person who is interested in the estate, affairs, or welfare of the person, including a parent, child, guardian, custodian, or any person who would be adversely affected by lack of effective management of the person’s property and business aff…

AMENDED BY ACT 2026-488, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. (a) On a petition for appointment of a conservator or other protective order, the requirements for notice described in Section 26-2A-103 apply, but (i) if the person to be protected has disappeared …

(a) Upon receipt of a petition for appointment of a conservator or other protective order because of minority, the court shall set a date for hearing. If the court determines at any time in the proceeding that the interests of the minor are or may be inadequately represented, it …

January 1, 2027.] AMENDED BY ACT 2026-488, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2027. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. (a) The court shall exercise the authority conferred in this division to encourage the development of maximum self-reliance and independence of a protected person and make protecti…

(a) If it is established in a proper proceeding that a basis exists for the appointment of a conservator or protective order as described in Section 26-2A-130, the court, without appointing a conservator, may authorize, direct, or ratify any transaction necessary or desirable to …

(a) The court may appoint an individual or a corporation with general power to serve as trustee or conservator of the estate of a protected person. The following are entitled to consideration for appointment in the order listed: (1) A conservator, guardian of property, or other l…

(a) The court must require a conservator to furnish a bond payable to the judge of probate conditioned upon faithful discharge of all duties of the trust according to law, with sureties as it shall specify. Unless otherwise directed, the bond must be in the amount of the aggregat…

(a) The following requirements and provisions apply to any bond required under Section 26-2A-139. (1) Sureties are jointly and severally liable with the conservator and with each other. (2) By executing an approved bond of a conservator, the surety consents to the jurisdiction of…

By accepting appointment, a conservator submits personally to the jurisdiction of the court in any proceeding relating to the estate which may be instituted by any interested person. Notice of any proceeding must be delivered to the conservator or mailed by registered or certifie…

(a) If not otherwise reasonably compensated for services rendered, any court representative, attorney, physician, conservator, or special conservator appointed in a protective proceeding and any attorney whose services resulted in a protective order or in an order that was benefi…

The court, on petition or on its own motion, may remove a conservator for good cause, upon notice and hearing, or accept the resignation of a conservator. Upon the conservator’s death, resignation, or removal, the court may appoint another conservator. A conservator so appointed …

(a) Any person interested in the welfare of a person for whom a conservator has been appointed, any person interested in the proper administration of the estate, or the court on its own motion, may file a petition in the appointing court or the court to which the conservatorship …

A conservator, in relation to powers conferred by this division, or implicit in the title acquired by virtue of the proceeding, shall observe the standards in dealing with the estate of the protected person that would be observed by a prudent person dealing with the property of a…

(a) Within 90 days after appointment, each conservator shall prepare and file with the appointing court a complete inventory of the estate subject to the conservatorship together with an oath or affirmation that the inventory is believed to be complete and accurate as far as info…

Each conservator shall account to the court for administration of the conservatorship upon resignation or removal and at other times as the court may direct, but if not otherwise directed, the conservator must, at least once in three years, account to the court. If the conservato…

(a) The appointment of a conservator vests in the conservator title as trustee to all property, or to the part thereof specified in the order, of the protected person, presently held or thereafter acquired, including title to any property theretofore held for the protected person…

(a) Except for property unaffected by the appointment of a conservator specified in Section 26-2A-148(a), letters of conservatorship are evidence of transfer of all assets, or the part thereof specified in the letters, of a protected person to the conservator. An order terminatin…

Voidable; Exceptions. Any sale or encumbrance to or purchase from a conservator, the spouse, agent, attorney of a conservator, any person related to the conservator by blood or marriage within the fourth degree, or any corporation, trust, or other organization in which the conser…

(a) A person who in good faith either assists or deals with a conservator for value in any transaction other than those requiring a court order as provided in Section 26- 2A-136 is protected as if the conservator properly exercised the power. The fact that a person knowingly deal…

(a) Subject to limitation provided in Section 26-2A-154, a conservator shall have all of the powers conferred in this section and any additional powers now or hereafter conferred by law on trustees in this state. In addition, a conservator of the estate of an unmarried minor as t…

(a) A conservator may expend or distribute income or principal of the estate without court authorization or confirmation for the health, support, education, or maintenance of the protected person and dependents in accordance with the following principles: (1) The conservator shal…

Subject to the restrictions in Section 26-2A-136(c), a court having equity jurisdiction may confer on a conservator at the time of appointment or later, in addition to the powers conferred by Sections 26-2A-152 and 26-2A-153, any power that the court itself could exercise under S…

In (i) investing the estate, (ii) selecting assets of the estate for distribution under subsections (a) and (b) of Section 26-2A-153, and (iii) utilizing powers of revocation or withdrawal available for the support of the protected person and exercisable by the conservator or the…

(a) A conservator may pay or secure from the estate claims against the estate or against the protected person arising before or after the conservatorship upon their presentation and allowance in accordance with the priorities stated in subsection (d). A claim may be presented by …

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the contract, a conservator is not personally liable on a contract properly entered into in fiduciary capacity in the course of administration of the estate unless the conservator fails to reveal the representative capacity and identify the estate…

(a) The protected person, conservator, or any other interested person may petition the court to terminate the conservatorship. A protected person seeking termination is entitled to the same rights and procedures as in an original proceeding for a protective order. If the conserva…

Without Local Proceedings. (a) Any person indebted to a protected person or having possession of property or of an instrument evidencing a debt, stock, or chose in action belonging to a protected person may pay or deliver it to a conservator, guardian of the estate, or other like…