Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 93 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS (§§ 93-1-1 — 93-31-7) › Chapter 20 - GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP (§§ 93-20-101 — 93-20-431) › Article 3 - GUARDIANSHIP OF ADULT (§§ 93-20-301 — 93-20-318) › Section 93-20-312 - Duties of guardian for adult

(1)
A guardian for an adult is a fiduciary. Except as otherwise limited by the court, a guardian for an adult shall make decisions regarding the support, care, education, health, and welfare of the ward to the extent necessitated by the adult's limitations.
(2)
A guardian for an adult promotes the self-determination of the adult and, to the extent reasonably feasible, encourages the adult to participate in decisions, act on the adult's own behalf, and develop or regain the capacity to manage the adult's personal affairs. In furtherance of this duty, the guardian may:
(a)
Become personally acquainted with the adult and maintain sufficient contact with the adult through regular visitation and other means, and to know the adult's abilities, limitations, needs, opportunities, and physical and mental health;
(b)
To the extent reasonably feasible, identify the values and preferences of the adult and involve the adult in decisions affecting the adult, including decisions about the adult's care, dwelling, activities, or social interactions; and
(c)
Make reasonable efforts to identify and facilitate supportive relationships and services for the adult.
(3)
A guardian for an adult at all times shall exercise reasonable care, diligence, and prudence when acting on behalf of or making decisions for the adult. In furtherance of this duty, the guardian shall:
(a)
Take reasonable care of the personal effects, pets, and service or support animals of the adult and bring a proceeding for a conservatorship if necessary to protect the adult's property;
(b)
Expend funds and other property of the adult received by the guardian for the adult's current needs for support, care, education, health, and welfare;
(c)
Conserve any funds and other property of the adult not expended under paragraph (b) for the adult's future needs, but if a conservator has been appointed for the adult, pay the funds and other property at least quarterly to the conservator to be conserved for the adult's future needs; and
(d)
Monitor the quality of services, including long-term care services, provided to the adult.
(4)
In making a decision for a ward, the guardian must make the decision the guardian reasonably believes the adult would make if the adult were able unless doing so would unreasonably harm or endanger the welfare or personal or financial interests of the adult. To determine the decision the ward would make if able, the guardian shall consider the adult's previous or current directions, preferences, opinions, values, and actions, to the extent actually known or reasonably ascertainable by the guardian.
(5)
If a guardian for an adult cannot make a decision under subsection (4) because the guardian does not know and cannot reasonably determine the decision the adult probably would make if able, or the guardian reasonably believes the decision the adult would make would unreasonably harm or endanger the welfare or personal or financial interests of the adult, the guardian must act in accordance with the best interest of the adult. In determining the best interest of the adult, the guardian may consider:
(a)
Information received from professionals and persons that demonstrate sufficient interest in the welfare of the adult;
(b)
Other information the guardian believes the adult would have considered if the adult were able to act; and
(c)
Other factors a reasonable person in the circumstances of the adult would consider, including consequences for others.
(6)
A guardian for an adult immediately must notify the court if the condition of the adult has changed so that the adult is capable of exercising rights previously removed.
Added by Laws, 2019, ch. 463, SB 2828,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2020.