755 ILCS 5/11a-17
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 755 - ESTATES|755 ILCS 5/ - Probate Act of 1975.|Article XIa - Guardians For Adults With Disabilities

 (from Ch. 110 1/2, par. 11a-17)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-72)Sec. 11a-17. Duties of personal guardian.(a) To the extent ordered by the court and under the direction of the  court, the guardian of the person shall have custody of the ward and the  ward's minor and adult dependent children and shall procure for them and shall  make provision for their support, care, comfort, health, education and  maintenance, and professional services as are appropriate, but the ward's  spouse may not be deprived of the custody and education of the ward's minor  and adult dependent children, without the consent of the spouse, unless the  court finds that the spouse is not a fit and competent person to have that  custody and education. The guardian shall assist the ward in the  development of maximum self-reliance and independence. The guardian of the  person may petition the court for an order directing the guardian of the  estate to pay an amount periodically for the provision of the services  specified by the court order.  If the ward's estate is insufficient to  provide for education and the guardian of the ward's person fails to  provide education, the court may award the custody of the ward to some  other person for the purpose of providing education.  If a person makes a  settlement upon or provision for the support or education of a ward, the  court may make an order for the visitation of the ward by the person making  the settlement or provision as the court deems proper. A guardian of the person may not admit a ward to a mental health facility except at the ward's request as provided in Article IV of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and unless the ward has the capacity to consent to such admission as provided in Article IV of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.(a-3)    If a guardian of an estate has not been appointed, the guardian of the person may, without an order of court, open, maintain, and transfer funds to an ABLE account on behalf of the ward and the ward's minor and adult dependent children as specified under Section 16.6 of the State Treasurer Act.(a-5) If the ward filed a petition for dissolution of marriage under the  Illinois  Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act before the ward was adjudicated a  person with a disability under this Article, the guardian of the ward's person and estate may  maintain that  action for  dissolution of marriage on behalf of the ward. Upon petition by the guardian of the ward's person or estate, the court may authorize and direct a guardian of the ward's person or estate to file a petition for dissolution of marriage or to file a petition for legal separation or declaration of invalidity of marriage under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act on behalf of the ward if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the relief sought is in the ward's best interests.  In making its determination, the court shall consider the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section.(a-10)  Upon petition by the guardian of the ward's person or estate, the court may authorize and direct a guardian of the ward's person or estate to consent, on behalf of the ward, to the ward's marriage pursuant to Part II of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the ward's best interests.  In making its determination, the court shall consider the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section.  Upon presentation of a court order authorizing and directing a guardian of the ward's person and estate to consent to the ward's marriage, the county clerk shall accept the guardian's application, appearance, and signature on behalf of the ward for purposes of issuing a license to marry under Section 203 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.(b) If the court directs, the guardian of the person shall file  with the court at intervals indicated by the court, a report that  shall state briefly: (1) the current mental, physical, and social  condition of the ward and the ward's minor and adult dependent children; (2)  their present living arrangement, and a description and the address of  every residence where they lived during the reporting period and the length  of stay at each place; (3) a summary of the medical, educational,  vocational, and other professional services given to them; (4) a resume of  the guardian's visits with and activities on behalf of the ward and the ward's  minor and adult dependent children; (5) a recommendation as to the need for  continued guardianship; (6) any other information requested by the court or  useful in the opinion of the guardian. The Office of the State Guardian  shall assist the guardian in filing the report when requested by the  guardian.  The court may take such action as it deems appropriate pursuant  to the report.(c) Absent court order pursuant to the Illinois Power of Attorney Act  directing a guardian to exercise powers of the principal under an agency  that survives disability, the guardian has no power, duty, or liability  with respect to any personal or health care matters covered by the agency.  This subsection (c) applies to all agencies, whenever and wherever executed.(d) A guardian acting as a surrogate decision maker under the Health  Care Surrogate Act shall have all the rights of a surrogate under that Act  without court order including the right to make medical treatment decisions  such as decisions to forgo or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.  Any decisions by the guardian to forgo or withdraw life-sustaining treatment  that are not authorized under the Health Care Surrogate Act shall require a  court order.  Nothing in this Section shall prevent an agent acting under a  power of attorney for health care from exercising his or her authority under  the Illinois Power of Attorney Act without further court order, unless a court  has acted under Section 2-10 of the Illinois Power of Attorney Act.  If a  guardian is also a health care agent for the ward under a valid power of  attorney for health care, the guardian acting as agent may execute his or her  authority under that act without further court order.(e) Decisions made by a guardian on behalf of a ward shall be made in  accordance with the following  standards for decision making. Decisions made by a guardian on behalf of a ward  may be made by conforming as closely as possible to what the ward, if  competent, would have done or intended under the circumstances, taking into  account evidence that includes, but is not limited to, the ward's personal,  philosophical, religious and  moral beliefs, and ethical values relative to the  decision to be made by the guardian. Where possible, the guardian shall  determine how the ward would have made a decision based on the ward's  previously expressed preferences, and make decisions in accordance with the  preferences of the ward. If the ward's wishes are unknown and remain unknown  after reasonable efforts to discern them, the decision shall be made on the  basis of the ward's best interests as determined by the guardian. In  determining the ward's best interests, the guardian shall weigh the reason for  and nature of the proposed action, the benefit or necessity of the action, the  possible risks and other consequences of the proposed action, and any available  alternatives and their risks, consequences and benefits, and shall take into  account any other information, including the views of family and friends, that  the guardian believes the ward would have considered if able to act for herself  or himself.(f) Upon petition by any interested person (including the standby or  short-term guardian), with such notice to interested persons as the court  directs and a finding by the court that it is in the best interests of the  person with a disability, the court may terminate or limit the authority of a standby or  short-term guardian or may enter such other orders as the court deems necessary  to provide for the best interests of the person with a disability.  The petition  for termination or limitation of the authority of a standby or short-term  guardian may, but need not, be combined with a petition to have another  guardian appointed for the person with a disability.(g)(1) Unless there is a court order to the contrary, the guardian, consistent with the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section, shall use reasonable efforts to notify the ward's known adult children, who have requested notification and provided contact information, of the ward's admission to a hospital, hospice or palliative care program, the ward's death, and the arrangements for the disposition of the ward's remains.(2) If a guardian unreasonably prevents an adult child, spouse, adult grandchild, parent, or adult sibling of the ward from visiting the ward, the court, upon a verified petition, may order the guardian to permit visitation between the ward and the adult child, spouse, adult grandchild, parent, or adult sibling. In making its determination, the court shall consider the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section. The court shall not allow visitation if the court finds that the ward has capacity to evaluate and communicate decisions regarding visitation and expresses a desire not to have visitation with the petitioner.  This subsection (g) does not apply to duly appointed public guardians or the Office of State Guardian.  (Source: P.A. 101-329, eff. 8-9-19; 102-72, eff. 1-1-22.)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-258)Sec. 11a-17. Duties of personal guardian.(a) To the extent ordered by the court and under the direction of the  court, the guardian of the person shall have custody of the ward and the  ward's minor and adult dependent children and shall procure for them and shall  make provision for their support, care, comfort, health, education and  maintenance, and professional services as are appropriate, but the ward's  spouse may not be deprived of the custody and education of the ward's minor  and adult dependent children, without the consent of the spouse, unless the  court finds that the spouse is not a fit and competent person to have that  custody and education. The guardian shall assist the ward in the  development of maximum self-reliance and independence. The guardian of the  person may petition the court for an order directing the guardian of the  estate to pay an amount periodically for the provision of the services  specified by the court order.  If the ward's estate is insufficient to  provide for education and the guardian of the ward's person fails to  provide education, the court may award the custody of the ward to some  other person for the purpose of providing education.  If a person makes a  settlement upon or provision for the support or education of a ward, the  court may make an order for the visitation of the ward by the person making  the settlement or provision as the court deems proper. A guardian of the person may not admit a ward to a mental health facility except at the ward's request as provided in Article IV of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and unless the ward has the capacity to consent to such admission as provided in Article IV of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.(a-3)    If a guardian of an estate has not been appointed, the guardian of the person may, without an order of court, open, maintain, and transfer funds to an ABLE account on behalf of the ward and the ward's minor and adult dependent children as specified under Section 16.6 of the State Treasurer Act.(a-5) If the ward filed a petition for dissolution of marriage under the  Illinois  Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act before the ward was adjudicated a  person with a disability under this Article, the guardian of the ward's person and estate may  maintain that  action for  dissolution of marriage on behalf of the ward. Upon petition by the guardian of the ward's person or estate, the court may authorize and direct a guardian of the ward's person or estate to file a petition for dissolution of marriage or to file a petition for legal separation or declaration of invalidity of marriage under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act on behalf of the ward if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the relief sought is in the ward's best interests.  In making its determination, the court shall consider the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section.(a-10)  Upon petition by the guardian of the ward's person or estate, the court may authorize and direct a guardian of the ward's person or estate to consent, on behalf of the ward, to the ward's marriage pursuant to Part II of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the marriage is in the ward's best interests.  In making its determination, the court shall consider the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section.  Upon presentation of a court order authorizing and directing a guardian of the ward's person and estate to consent to the ward's marriage, the county clerk shall accept the guardian's application, appearance, and signature on behalf of the ward for purposes of issuing a license to marry under Section 203 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.(b) If the court directs, the guardian of the person shall file  with the court at intervals indicated by the court, a report that  shall state briefly: (1) the current mental, physical, and social  condition of the ward and the ward's minor and adult dependent children; (2)  their present living arrangement, and a description and the address of  every residence where they lived during the reporting period and the length  of stay at each place; (3) a summary of the medical, educational,  vocational, and other professional services given to them; (4) a resume of  the guardian's visits with and activities on behalf of the ward and the ward's  minor and adult dependent children; (5) a recommendation as to the need for  continued guardianship; (6) any other information requested by the court or  useful in the opinion of the guardian. The Office of the State Guardian  shall assist the guardian in filing the report when requested by the  guardian.  The court may take such action as it deems appropriate pursuant  to the report.(c) Absent court order pursuant to the Illinois Power of Attorney Act  directing a guardian to exercise powers of the principal under an agency  that survives disability, the guardian has no power, duty, or liability  with respect to any personal or health care matters covered by the agency.  This subsection (c) applies to all agencies, whenever and wherever executed.(d) A guardian acting as a surrogate decision maker under the Health  Care Surrogate Act shall have all the rights of a surrogate under that Act  without court order including the right to make medical treatment decisions  such as decisions to forgo or withdraw life-sustaining treatment.  Any decisions by the guardian to forgo or withdraw life-sustaining treatment  that are not authorized under the Health Care Surrogate Act shall require a  court order.  Nothing in this Section shall prevent an agent acting under a  power of attorney for health care from exercising his or her authority under  the Illinois Power of Attorney Act without further court order, unless a court  has acted under Section 2-10 of the Illinois Power of Attorney Act.  If a  guardian is also a health care agent for the ward under a valid power of  attorney for health care, the guardian acting as agent may execute his or her  authority under that act without further court order.(e) Decisions made by a guardian on behalf of a ward shall be made in  accordance with the following  standards for decision making. The guardian shall consider the ward's current preferences to the extent the ward has the ability to participate in decision making when those preferences are known or reasonably ascertainable by the guardian. Decisions by the guardian shall conform to the ward's current preferences:  (1) unless the guardian reasonably believes that doing  so would result in substantial harm to the ward's welfare or personal or financial interests; and   (2) so long as such decisions give substantial weight to what the ward, if  competent, would have done or intended under the circumstances, taking into  account evidence that includes, but is not limited to, the ward's personal,  philosophical, religious and  moral beliefs, and ethical values relative to the  decision to be made by the guardian. Where possible, the guardian shall  determine how the ward would have made a decision based on the ward's  previously expressed preferences, and make decisions in accordance with the  preferences of the ward. If the ward's wishes are unknown and remain unknown  after reasonable efforts to discern them, or if the guardian reasonably believes that a decision made in conformity with the ward's preferences would result in substantial harm to the ward's welfare or personal or financial interests, the decision shall be made on the  basis of the ward's best interests as determined by the guardian. In  determining the ward's best interests, the guardian shall weigh the reason for  and nature of the proposed action, the benefit or necessity of the action, the  possible risks and other consequences of the proposed action, and any available  alternatives and their risks, consequences and benefits, and shall take into  account any other information, including the views of family and friends, that  the guardian believes the ward would have considered if able to act for herself  or himself.(f) Upon petition by any interested person (including the standby or  short-term guardian), with such notice to interested persons as the court  directs and a finding by the court that it is in the best interest of the  person with a disability, the court may terminate or limit the authority of a standby or  short-term guardian or may enter such other orders as the court deems necessary  to provide for the best interest of the person with a disability.  The petition  for termination or limitation of the authority of a standby or short-term  guardian may, but need not, be combined with a petition to have another  guardian appointed for the person with a disability.(g)(1) Unless there is a court order to the contrary, the guardian, consistent with the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section, shall use reasonable efforts to notify the ward's known adult children, who have requested notification and provided contact information, of the ward's admission to a hospital or hospice program, the ward's death, and the arrangements for the disposition of the ward's remains.(2) If a guardian unreasonably prevents an adult child, spouse, adult grandchild, parent, or adult sibling of the ward from visiting the ward, the court, upon a verified petition, may order the guardian to permit visitation between the ward and the adult child, spouse, adult grandchild, parent, or adult sibling. In making its determination, the court shall consider the standards set forth in subsection (e) of this Section. The court shall not allow visitation if the court finds that the ward has capacity to evaluate and communicate decisions regarding visitation and expresses a desire not to have visitation with the petitioner.  This subsection (g) does not apply to duly appointed public guardians or the Office of State Guardian.  (Source: P.A. 101-329, eff. 8-9-19; 102-258, eff. 8-6-21.)