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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55431</law_id><section_number>64.2-2110</section_number><catch_line>Appropriate forum</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-2107</reference><reference>64.2-2111</reference></referred_to_by><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="21">Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act</unit><unit label="article" level="5" order_by="1" identifier="2">Jurisdiction</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the Commonwealth having <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Jurisdiction" href="/64.2-2107/">64.2-2107</a> to appoint a <span class="dictionary">guardian</span> or <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a <span class="dictionary">conservatorship order</span> may decline to exercise its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> if it determines at any time that a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of another <span class="dictionary">state</span> is a more appropriate forum. <a id="paragraph-203207" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If a <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the Commonwealth declines to exercise its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> under subsection A, it shall either dismiss or <span class="dictionary">stay</span> the proceeding. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may impose any condition the <span class="dictionary">court</span> considers just and proper, including the condition that a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for the appointment of a <span class="dictionary">guardian</span> or issuance of a <span class="dictionary">conservatorship order</span> be filed promptly in another <span class="dictionary">state</span>. <a id="paragraph-203208" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall consider all relevant factors, including: <a id="paragraph-203209" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any expressed preference of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>; <a id="paragraph-203210" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> has occurred or is likely to occur and which <span class="dictionary">state</span> could best protect the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> from the abuse, neglect, or exploitation; <a id="paragraph-203211" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The length of time the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> was physically present in or was a legal resident of the Commonwealth or another <span class="dictionary">state</span>; <a id="paragraph-203212" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The distance of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span> from the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in each <span class="dictionary">state</span>; <a id="paragraph-203213" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The financial circumstances of the <span class="dictionary">respondent</span>&#x2019;s estate; <a id="paragraph-203214" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The nature and location of the <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>; <a id="paragraph-203215" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The ability of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in each <span class="dictionary">state</span> to decide the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>; <a id="paragraph-203216" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The familiarity of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> of each <span class="dictionary">state</span> with the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> and <span class="dictionary">issues</span> in the proceeding; and <a id="paragraph-203217" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> If an appointment were made, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>&#x2019;s ability to monitor the conduct of the <span class="dictionary">guardian</span> or <span class="dictionary">conservator</span>. <a id="paragraph-203218" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-2110/#C9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2011, c. 518, &#xA7; 37.2-1042; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
