Oklahoma Code § 30-3-115

Title 30. Guardian And Ward: Appointment of special guardian - Powers - Duration -
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
Bond - Removal.
A.  The court may appoint a special guardian for a person who
appears to be or has been found to be an incapacitated or partially
incapacitated person when it appears:
1.  There is imminent danger that the health or safety of said
person will be seriously impaired or that the financial resources of
said person will be seriously damaged or dissipated unless immediate
action is taken; and
2.  No other person appears to have authority to act in the
circumstances or the guardian previously appointed is unable to or
refuses to take action.
B.  The request for appointment of a special guardian may be
included in the petition to appoint a guardian or by separate
petition, either of which must be verified.
C.  The court may appoint an attorney, separate and apart from
the petitioner's attorney, for the subject of the proceeding who
does not have legal representation and either cannot afford a
private attorney or cannot retain counsel due to incapacity and may
proceed to hear the petition as same pertains to appointment of a
special guardian with or without notice.  If notice is required, the
notice shall set a time for hearing on the petition within seventy-
two (72) hours.  Notice shall be served on:
1.  The subject of the proceeding;
2.  The attorney of the subject of the proceeding, if any;
3.  The spouse of the subject of the proceeding, if any, and if
the spouse is not the petitioner; and
4.  At least one other adult relative of the subject of the
proceeding or any other person who is not the petitioner, as
directed by the court.

Notice shall be personally served in the manner as the court directs
on the subject of the proceeding and on other persons receiving
notice as directed by the court.
D.  The court may without notice appoint a special guardian upon
the filing of the petition, upon presentation of evidence of the
incapacity of the subject of the proceeding, upon a showing that an
immediate or reasonably foreseeable serious physical harm to the
subject of the proceeding or serious impairment of the financial
resources of said person will result from a delay, and upon
presentation of a proposed emergency plan of care for the subject of
the proceeding.  Whenever a special guardian is immediately
appointed as provided by this subsection, the court shall cause a
copy of the petition, order and letters of special guardianship to
be served on:
1.  The subject of the proceeding;
2.  The spouse of the subject of the proceeding, if any, if the
spouse is not the petitioner; and
3.  At least one other adult relative of the subject of the
proceeding, if such relative is known or can be ascertained with
reasonable diligence, or by any other person who is not the
petitioner, as directed by the court.
The notice shall be served in the manner the court directs.
E.  The court shall grant the special guardian only those powers
necessary to act with respect to the particular emergency, as
determined by the court.  The special guardian shall be granted only
powers to accomplish acts that are both supported by the proposed
emergency plan of care and found necessary by the court.  Power to
change the place of residence of the subject of the proceeding shall
be specifically granted by the court upon a showing that the needs
of the subject of the proceeding cannot be met within such subject's
present residential arrangements.  The court's approval shall be
required for any changes in either the emergency plan of care or the
specified powers of the special guardian.  The letters for a special
guardian shall state that the person is a special guardian, the date
of the expiration of the special guardianship, and the specific
power or powers of the special guardian.
F.  The appointment of a special guardian shall be effective
from the date of appointment until a guardian is appointed pursuant
to Section 1-112 of this title, or for thirty (30) days, whichever
is less.
G.  The court shall not require bond if the appointment is over
the person only, and may require or waive bond if the appointment is
as to the property of the ward.
H.  The authority of any guardian or limited guardian previously
appointed by the court is suspended with regard to the powers
granted to the special guardian, but not otherwise, for as long as a
special guardian has authority as provided by this section.

I.  The court may remove a special guardian at any time.  The
special guardian shall file a report showing all actions taken
during the special guardianship and shall make any other report the
court requires.

‹ Prev All Oklahoma sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.