CHAPTER 53
UNIFORM ADULT GUARDIANSHIP JURISDICTION
SUBCHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
53.01 Purpose; construction. 53.03 International application. 53.04 Communication between courts. 53.05 Cooperation between courts. 53.06 Taking testimony in another state. SUBCHAPTER II
JURISDICTION
53.21 Significant-connection factors. 53.24 Special jurisdiction. 53.25 Exclusive and continuing jurisdiction. 53.27 Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct. 53.28 Notice of proceeding. 53.29 Proceedings in more than one state. SUBCHAPTER III
TRANSFER OF GUARDIANSHIP
53.31 Transfer of guardianship to another state. 53.32 Accepting guardianship transferred from another state. SUBCHAPTER IV
REGISTRATION AND RECOGNITION
OF ORDERS FROM OTHER STATES
53.41 Registration of guardianship of the person orders. 53.42 Registration of guardianship of the estate orders. 53.43 Effect of registration. SUBCHAPTER V
UNIFORMITY; FEDERAL LAW
53.51 Uniformity of application and construction. 53.52 Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. GENERAL PROVISIONS
53.0153.01 Purpose; construction. This chapter applies to the process of determining jurisdiction over the person for the purpose of a guardianship proceeding or matter. The chapter is intended to supplement but not replace the procedure for petitioning for a guardianship under ch. 54 and for protective placement or services under ch. 55. The purpose of this chapter is to resolve potential conflicts regarding jurisdiction between states and to make uniform the laws with respect to this chapter among those states. To the extent there is a conflict in procedure between this chapter and the provisions of ch. 54 or 55, the procedures in ch. 54 or 55 supersede the conflicting provision of this chapter. 53.01 HistoryHistory: 2017 a. 187. 53.0253.02 Definitions. In this chapter: 53.02(3)(3) “Guardian of the estate” means a person appointed by the court of any state to administer the property of an adult on the basis of a finding of incapacity or incompetence or on the basis of being found to be a spendthrift, including a person appointed guardian of the estate under s. 54.10 (2) or (3) and including a conservator appointed in another state where that term is used for a role similar to that of a guardian of the estate under s. 54.10 (2) or (3). “Guardian of the estate” does not include a person appointed voluntary conservator under s. 54.76 (2). 53.02(4)(4) “Guardian of the person” means a person appointed by the court to make decisions regarding the person of an adult, including a guardian of the person appointed under s. 54.10 (3). 53.02(5)(5) “Guardianship of the person order” means an order appointing a guardian of the person. 53.02(6)(6) “Guardianship of the person proceeding” means a judicial proceeding in which an order for the appointment of a guardian of the person is sought or has been issued. 53.02(7)(7) “Home state” means the state in which the respondent was physically present, including any period of temporary absence, for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the filing of a petition for an order appointing a guardian of the estate or the appointment of a guardian of the person; or if none, the state in which the respondent was physically present, including any period of temporary absence, for at least 6 consecutive months ending within the 6 months prior to the filing of the petition. 53.02(10)(10) “Party” means the respondent, petitioner, guardian of the person, guardian of the estate, interested person, as defined in s. 54.01 (17), or any other person allowed by the court to participate in a guardianship of the person proceeding or proceeding for the appointment of a guardian of the estate. 53.02(12)(12) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. 53.02(14)(14) “Respondent” means an adult for whom an order appointing a guardian of the estate or the appointment of a guardian of the person is sought. 53.02(16)(16) “Significant-connection state” means a state, other than the home state, with which a respondent has a significant connection other than mere physical presence considering the factors in s. 53.21. 53.02(17)(17) “State,” notwithstanding s. 990.01 (40), means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, a federally recognized Indian tribe, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 53.02 HistoryHistory: 2017 a. 187. 53.0353.03 International application. A court of this state may treat a foreign country as if it were a state for the purpose of applying this subchapter and subchs. II, III, and V. 53.03 HistoryHistory: 2017 a. 187. 53.0453.04 Communication between courts. 53.04(1)(1) A court of this state may communicate with a court in another state concerning a proceeding arising under this chapter. The court may allow the parties to participate in the communication. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2), the court shall make a record of the communication. The record may be limited to the fact that the communication occurred. 53.04(2)(2) Courts may communicate concerning schedules, calendars, court records, and other administrative matters without making a record. 53.04 HistoryHistory: 2017 a. 187. 53.0553.05 Cooperation between courts. 53.05(1)(1) In a guardianship of the person proceeding or proceeding for appointment of a guardian of the estate in this state, a court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to do any of the following: 53.05(1)(b)(b) Order a person in that state to produce evidence or give testimony under procedures of that state. 53.05(1)(c)(c) Order that an evaluation or assessment be made of the respondent. 53.05(1)(d)(d) Order any appropriate investigation of a person involved in a proceeding. 53.05(1)(e)(e) Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript or other record of a hearing under par. (a) or any other proceeding, any evidence otherwise produced under par. (b), and any evaluation or assessment prepared in compliance with an order under par. (c) or (d). 53.05(1)(f)(f) Issue any order necessary to assure the appearance in the proceeding of a person whose presence is necessary for the court to make a determination, including the respondent or the individual subject to a guardianship of the person or of the estate. 53.05(1)(g)(g) Issue an order authorizing the release of medical, financial, criminal, or other relevant information in that state, including protected health information as defined in 45 CFR 160.103. 53.05(2)(2) If a court of another state in which a guardianship of the person proceeding or proceeding to appoint a guardian of the estate is pending requests assistance of the kind provided in sub. (1), a court of this state has jurisdiction for the limited purpose of granting the request or making reasonable efforts to comply with the request. 53.05 HistoryHistory: 2017 a. 187; 2021 a. 238. 53.0653.06 Taking testimony in another state. 53.06(1)(1) In a guardianship of the person proceeding or proceeding for the appointment of a guardian of the estate, in addition to other procedures that may be available, testimony of a witness who is located in another state may be offered by deposition or other means allowable in this state for testimony taken in another state. The court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a witness be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the testimony is to be taken. 53.06(2)(2) In a guardianship of the person proceeding or proceeding for the appointment of a guardian of the estate, a court in this state may permit a witness located in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone or audiovisual or other electronic means. A court of this state shall cooperate with the court of the other state in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony. 53.06(3)(3) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of this state by technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the best evidence rule. 53.06 HistoryHistory: 2017 a. 187.
/statutes/statutes/53
true
statutes
/statutes/statutes/53/_23
section
true