Grievance against guardian or conservator

18-C M.R.S. § 5-126, under Chapter 5.

18-C M.R.S. § 5-126

1. File a grievance with the court. An individual who is subject to guardianship or conservatorship, or a person interested in the welfare of an individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship, who reasonably believes a guardian or conservator is breaching the guardian's or conservator's fiduciary duty or otherwise acting in a manner inconsistent with this Act may file a grievance with the court. The grievance must be in writing or another record.

2. Procedure upon receiving grievance. Subject to subsection 3, after receiving a grievance under subsection 1, the court:

A. Shall review the grievance and, if necessary to determine the appropriate response to the grievance, court records related to the guardianship or conservatorship; [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

B. Shall schedule a hearing if the individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship is an adult and the grievance supports a reasonable belief that: (1) Removal of the guardian and appointment of a successor may be appropriate in accordance with section 5-318; (2) Termination or modification of the guardianship may be appropriate under section 5-319; (3) Removal of the conservator and appointment of a successor may be appropriate under section 5-430; (4) Termination or modification of the conservatorship may be appropriate under section 5-431; and [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

(1) Removal of the guardian and appointment of a successor may be appropriate in accordance with section 5-318;

(2) Termination or modification of the guardianship may be appropriate under section 5-319;

(3) Removal of the conservator and appointment of a successor may be appropriate under section 5-430;

(4) Termination or modification of the conservatorship may be appropriate under section 5-431; and [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

C. May take any action supported by the grievance and record, including: (1) Ordering the guardian or conservator to provide to the court a report, accounting, inventory, updated plan or other information; (2) Appointing a guardian ad litem; (3) Appointing an attorney for the individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship; or (4) Scheduling a hearing. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

(1) Ordering the guardian or conservator to provide to the court a report, accounting, inventory, updated plan or other information;

(2) Appointing a guardian ad litem;

(3) Appointing an attorney for the individual subject to guardianship or conservatorship; or

(4) Scheduling a hearing. [PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14 (AFF).]

3. Similar grievance filed within 6 months. The court may decline to proceed under subsection 2 if a similar grievance was made within the preceding 6 months and the court followed the procedures of subsection 2 in considering the grievance.