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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82786</law_id><section_number>64.2-2002</section_number><catch_line>Who may file petition; contents</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Fiduciaries and Guardians</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="D">Guardianship of Incapacitated Persons</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="20">Guardianship and Conservatorship</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="1">Appointment</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person, including a <span class="dictionary">community services</span> board and any other local or state governmental agency, may file a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the appointment of a <span class="dictionary">guardian</span>, a <span class="dictionary">conservator</span>, or both. <a id="paragraph-296747" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the appointment of a <span class="dictionary">guardian</span>, a <span class="dictionary">conservator</span>, or both, shall state the petitioner&#x2019;s name, place of residence, post office address, and relationship, if any, to the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> and, to the extent known as of the date of filing, shall include the following: <a id="paragraph-296748" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s name, date of birth, place of residence or location, post office address, and the <span class="dictionary">sealed</span> filing of the social security number; <a id="paragraph-296749" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The basis for the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under the provisions of Article 2 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions; significant connection factors" href="/64.2-2105/">64.2-2105</a> et seq.) of Chapter 21; <a id="paragraph-296750" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The names and post office addresses of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s spouse, adult children, parents, and adult siblings or, if no such relatives are known to the petitioner, at least three other known relatives of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>, including stepchildren. If a total of three such persons cannot be identified and located, the petitioner shall certify that <span class="dictionary">fact</span> in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall set forth such <span class="dictionary">finding</span> in the <span class="dictionary">final order</span>; <a id="paragraph-296751" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The name, place of residence or location, and post office address of the <span class="dictionary">individual</span> or <span class="dictionary">facility</span>, if any, that is responsible for or has assumed responsibility for the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s care or <span class="dictionary">custody</span>; <a id="paragraph-296752" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> a. The name, place of residence or location, and post office address of any agent designated under a durable <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span> or an advance directive of which the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> is the principal, and any <span class="dictionary">guardian</span>, committee, or <span class="dictionary">conservator</span> currently acting, whether in this state or elsewhere, and the petitioner shall attach a copy of any such durable <span class="dictionary">power of attorney</span>, advance directive, or order appointing the <span class="dictionary">guardian</span>, committee, or <span class="dictionary">conservator</span>, if available;
				b. The name, location, and post office address of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s primary health care provider, if any; <a id="paragraph-296753" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The type of guardianship or conservatorship requested and a <span class="dictionary">brief</span> description of the nature and extent of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s alleged incapacity; <a id="paragraph-296754" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> When the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> requests appointment of a <span class="dictionary">guardian</span>, a <span class="dictionary">brief</span> description of the services currently being provided for the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s health, care, safety, or rehabilitation and, where appropriate, a recommendation as to living arrangements and treatment plan; <a id="paragraph-296755" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> If the appointment of a <span class="dictionary">limited guardian</span> is requested, the specific areas of protection and assistance to be included in the order of appointment and, if the appointment of a <span class="dictionary">limited conservator</span> is requested, the specific areas of management and assistance to be included in the order of appointment; <a id="paragraph-296756" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> The name and post office address of any proposed guardian or conservator or any guardian or conservator nominated by the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> and that person&#x2019;s relationship to the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>; <a id="paragraph-296757" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> The native language of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> and any necessary alternative mode of communication; <a id="paragraph-296758" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> A statement of the financial resources of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> that shall, to the extent known, list the approximate <span class="dictionary">value</span> of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">property</span> and the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s anticipated annual gross income, other receipts, and debts, contained in a separate confidential <span class="dictionary">addendum</span>, pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Identifying information; separate confidential addendum" href="/64.2-2000.1/">64.2-2000.1</a>; <a id="paragraph-296759" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> A statement of whether the petitioner believes that the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s attendance at the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> would be detrimental to the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s health, care, or safety; and <a id="paragraph-296760" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B13" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">13.</span> A request for appointment of a <span class="dictionary">guardian ad litem</span>. <a id="paragraph-296761" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#B13"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The petitioner shall complete and file with the <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for appointment of a guardian, a conservator, or both, a cover sheet on a form prepared by the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia. Such cover sheet shall contain such information as the Executive Secretary deems necessary. <a id="paragraph-296762" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2002/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 921, &#xA7; 37.1-134.8; 2005, c. 716, &#xA7; 37.2-1002; 2006, c. 471; 2012, c. 614; 2013, c. 523; 2022, c. 630; 2023, cc. 16, 176; 2024, cc. 17, 156.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
