Section 1996 Of Article 2. Jurisdiction From California Probate Code >> Division 4. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 8. >> Article 2.
1996
. (a) (1) A court of this state having jurisdiction under
Section 1993 to appoint a conservator may decline to exercise its
jurisdiction if it determines at any time that a court of another
state is a more appropriate forum.
(2) The issue of appropriate forum may be raised upon petition of
any interested person, the court's own motion, or the request of
another court.
(3) The petitioner, or, if there is no petitioner, the court in
this state, shall give notice of the petition, motion, or request to
the same persons and in the same manner as for a petition for a
conservatorship under Section 1801. The notice shall state the basis
for the petition, motion, or request, and shall inform the recipients
of the date, time, and place of the hearing under paragraph (4). The
notice shall also advise the recipients that they have a right to
object to the petition, motion, or request. The notice to the
potential conservatee shall inform the potential conservatee of the
right to be represented by legal counsel if the potential conservatee
so chooses, and to have legal counsel appointed by the court if the
potential conservatee is unable to retain legal counsel.
(4) The court shall hold a hearing on the petition, motion, or
request.
(b) If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction
under subdivision (a), it shall grant the petition, motion, or
request, and either dismiss or stay any conservatorship proceeding
pending in this state. The court's order shall be based on evidence
presented to the court. The order shall be in a record and shall
expressly state that the court declines to exercise its jurisdiction
because a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The
court may impose any condition the court considers just and proper,
including the condition that a petition for the appointment of a
conservator of the person, conservator of the estate, or conservator
of the person and estate be filed promptly in another state.
(c) In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the court
shall consider all relevant factors, including all of the following:
(1) Any expressed preference of the proposed conservatee.
(2) Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the proposed
conservatee has occurred or is likely to occur and which state could
best protect the proposed conservatee from the abuse, neglect, or
exploitation.
(3) The length of time the proposed conservatee was physically
present in or was a legal resident of this or another state.
(4) The location of the proposed conservatee's family, friends,
and other persons required to be notified of the conservatorship
proceeding.
(5) The distance of the proposed conservatee from the court in
each state.
(6) The financial circumstances of the estate of the proposed
conservatee.
(7) The nature and location of the evidence.
(8) The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue
expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present evidence.
(9) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and
issues in the proceeding.
(10) If an appointment were made, the court's ability to monitor
the conduct of the conservator.