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An Act To Provide Counsel for a Person Who Is the Subject of an Adult Guardianship, Conservatorship or Other Protective Arrangement Proceeding
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 18-C MRSA §5-305, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
1. Appointment of attorney required.   TheIf a respondent is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent the respondent in a proceeding on a petition under section 5-302 if:.
 
A.  Requested by the respondent;
 
B.  Recommended by the visitor;
 
C.  The court determines that the respondent needs representation; or
 
D.  It comes to the court's attention that the respondent wishes to contest any aspect of the proceeding or to seek any limitation on the proposed guardian's powers.
Sec. 2. 18-C MRSA §5-318, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
4. Attorney for the adult.   An adult subject to guardianship who seeks to remove the guardian and have a successor appointed has a right to choose an attorney to represent the adult. If the adult subject to guardianship is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney under the same conditions as in section 5-305. The court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the attorney for the adult as provided in section 5-119.
Sec. 3. 18-C MRSA §5-319, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
7. Attorney for the adult.   An adult subject to guardianship who seeks to terminate or modify the terms of the guardianship has a right to choose an attorney to represent the adult in this matter. If the adult is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney under the same conditions as in section 5-305. The court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the attorney for the adult as provided in section 5-119.
Sec. 4. 18-C MRSA §5-406, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
1. Attorney for respondent.   TheIf a respondent is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent athe respondent in a proceeding on a petition under section 5-402 if:.
 
A.  Requested by the respondent;
 
B.  Recommended by the visitor;
 
C.  The court determines that the respondent needs representation; or
 
D.  It comes to the court's attention that the respondent wishes to contest any aspect of the proceeding or to seek any limitation on the proposed conservator's powers.
Sec. 5. 18-C MRSA §5-430, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
4. Attorney for individual subject to conservatorship.   If an individual subject to conservatorship who seeks to remove the conservator and have a successor appointed is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney under the same conditions as in section 5-406. The court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the attorney for the individual as provided in section 5-119.
Sec. 6. 18-C MRSA §5-431, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
9. Attorney for individual subject to conservatorship.   If an individual subject to conservatorship who seeks to terminate or modify the terms of the conservatorship is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney under the same conditions in section 5-406. The court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the individual's attorney as provided in section 5-119.
Sec. 7. 18-C MRSA §5-507, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. F, §1, is amended to read:
 
1. Appointment of attorney.   TheIf a respondent is not represented by an attorney, the court shall appoint an attorney to represent the respondent in a proceeding under this Part if:.
 
A.  Requested by the respondent;
 
B.  Recommended by the visitor;
 
C.  The court determines that the respondent needs representation; or
 
D.  It comes to the court's attention that the respondent wishes to contest any aspect of the proceeding or to seek any limitations on the protective arrangement.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires a probate court to appoint an attorney for a person who is not already represented by an attorney when the person is the subject of a petition for adult guardianship, conservatorship or other protective arrangement.