SB167 Summary

• Allows adult children (age 18+) and first-degree relatives to petition circuit court for visitation rights with elderly parents or dependent adults subject to conservatorship who have been isolated from them.

• Court must hold hearing within 60 days of petition filing (or within 10 days for emergency cases where conservatee's health is declining or death is imminent).

• Conservators, guardians, and spouses cannot refuse visitors, phone calls, and correspondence from adult children or first-degree relatives unless a court order expressly limits these rights.

• Court must determine if conservatee has capacity to make visitation decisions; if so, grants visitation upon conservatee's expressed desire; if not, considers relationship history, conservatee's prior statements, estate planning documents, Department of Human Resources investigation, and guardian ad litem reports.

• Conservators must notify adult children and first-degree relatives when conservatee dies, is admitted to medical facility for 3+ days, changes residence, or stays away from residence for more than one week, with limited exceptions for protective orders or best interests of conservatee.