General powers and duties of guardian of the person

475.120. General powers and duties of guardian of the person — social service agency acting on behalf of ward, requirements — preneed funeral contract permitted, when. — 1. The guardian of the person of a minor shall be entitled to the custody and control of the ward and shall provide for the ward's education, support, and maintenance.

2. A guardian or limited guardian of an incapacitated person shall act in the best interest of the ward. A limited guardian of an incapacitated person shall have the powers and duties enumerated by the court in the adjudication order or any later modifying order.

3. Except as otherwise limited by the court, a guardian shall make decisions regarding the adult ward's support, care, education, health, and welfare. A guardian shall exercise authority only as necessitated by the adult ward's limitations and, to the extent possible, shall encourage the adult ward to participate in decisions, act on the adult ward's own behalf, and develop or regain the capacity to manage the adult ward's personal affairs. The general powers and duties of a guardian of an incapacitated person shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) Assure that the ward resides in the best and least restrictive setting reasonably available;

(2) Assure that the ward receives medical care and other services that are needed;

(3) Promote and protect the care, comfort, safety, health, and welfare of the ward;

(4) Provide required consents on behalf of the ward;

(5) To exercise all powers and discharge all duties necessary or proper to implement the provisions of this section.

4. A guardian of an adult or minor ward is not obligated by virtue of such guardian's appointment to use the guardian's own financial resources for the support of the ward. If the ward's estate and available public benefits are inadequate for the proper care of the ward, the guardian or conservator may apply to the county commission pursuant to section 475.370.

5. No guardian of the person shall have authority to seek admission of the guardian's ward to a mental health or intellectual disability facility for more than thirty days for any purpose without court order except as otherwise provided by law.

6. Only the director or chief administrative officer of a social service agency serving as guardian of an incapacitated person, or such person's designee, is legally authorized to act on behalf of the ward.

7. A social service agency serving as guardian of an incapacitated person shall notify the court within fifteen days after any change in the identity of the professional individual who has primary responsibility for providing guardianship services to the incapacitated person.

8. Any social service agency serving as guardian may not provide other services to the ward.

9. In the absence of any written direction from the ward to the contrary, a guardian may execute a preneed contract for the ward's funeral services, including cremation, or an irrevocable life insurance policy to pay for the ward's funeral services, including cremation, and authorize the payment of such services from the ward's resources. Nothing in this section shall interfere with the rights of next-of-kin to direct the disposition of the body of the ward upon death under section 194.119. If a preneed arrangement such as that authorized by this subsection is in place and no next-of-kin exercises the right of sepulcher within ten days of the death of the ward, the guardian may sign consents for the disposition of the body, including cremation, without any liability therefor. A guardian who exercises the authority granted in this subsection shall not be personally financially responsible for the payment of services.

(RSMo 1939 §§ 394, 460, 474, 497, A.L. 1955 p. 385 § 306, A.L. 1983 S.B. 44 & 45, A.L. 1985 S.B. 35, et al., A.L. 1994 S.B. 734, A.L. 1997 H.B. 540, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1064, A.L. 2017 S.B. 111 merged with S.B. 112, A.L. 2018 S.B. 806, A.L. 2021 S.B. 53 & 60)

Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 394, 461, 475, 498; 1919 §§ 390, 457, 471, 494; 1909 §§ 422, 487, 501, 524