§ 35B-31.  Accepting guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate transferred from another state.

(a) To confirm transfer of a general guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate transferred to this State under provisions similar to G.S. 35B-30, the general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate must petition the court in this State to accept the general guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate. The petition must include a certified copy of the other state's provisional order of transfer.

(b) Notice of a petition under subsection (a) of this section must be given to those persons that would be entitled to notice if the petition were a petition for the adjudication of incompetence or the application for the appointment of a guardian of the person or general guardian or issuance of a protective order in both the transferring state and this State. The notice must be given in the same manner as notice is required to be given in this State.

(c) On the court's own motion or on request of the general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate, the incapacitated or protected person, or other person required to be notified of the proceeding, the court shall hold a hearing on a petition filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

(d) The court shall issue a provisional order granting a petition filed under subsection (a) of this section unless either of the following is true:

(1) An objection is made and the objector establishes that transfer of the proceeding would be contrary to the interests of the incapacitated or protected person.

(2) The general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate is ineligible for appointment in this State.

(e) The court shall issue a final order accepting the proceeding and appointing the general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate as the general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate in this State upon its receipt from the court from which the proceeding is being transferred of a final order issued under provisions similar to G.S. 35B-30 transferring the proceeding to this State.

(f) Not later than 90 days after issuance of a final order accepting transfer of a general guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate, the court shall determine whether the general guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate needs to be modified to conform to the law of this State.

(g) In granting a petition under this section, the court shall recognize a general guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate order from the other state, including the determination of the incapacitated or protected person's incapacity and the appointment of the general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate.

(h) The denial by a court of this State of a petition to accept a general guardianship, guardianship of the person, or guardianship of the estate transferred from another state does not affect the ability of the general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate to seek appointment as general guardian, guardian of the person, or guardian of the estate in this State under Subchapter II of Chapter 35A of the General Statutes if the court has jurisdiction to make an appointment other than by reason of the provisional order of transfer. (2016-72, s. 1.)