(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the hearing on a petition shall be held not less than seven (7) nor more than sixty (60) days from the date of service on the respondent or the date the guardian ad litem was appointed, whichever is later. The hearing date may be extended on motion showing good cause.(b) If the petition alleges the minor or person with a disability is faced with a life threatening situation, the court may schedule the hearing in less than seven (7) days from the date of service on the respondent; provided, that actual notice of the hearing is given to the closest relative and the respondent.(c)(1) In a proceeding for the appointment of a conservator, a notice of the hearing shall be served on the respondent and any person, institution or residential provider having care or custody of the respondent by the guardian ad litem or as otherwise authorized under the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure. The notice of hearing shall be substantially in the following form:
(2) The notice shall contain on the reverse side or on an attached sheet those rights set out in § 34-3-106.(3) The notice shall also be served upon the closest relative or relatives of the respondent, as such persons are described in title 31, chapter 2, but not including the petitioner, and upon the person or institution, if any, having care and custody of the respondent or with whom the respondent is living. Service by mail, sent to the last known address of such persons or institution, shall be sufficient for purposes of this subdivision (c)(3). If, after reasonable effort, a postal address cannot be ascertained, a notification may be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the petition is filed, or if there is no newspaper of general circulation published in the county, notice may be posted at the county courthouse, except where such petitions are filed by or on behalf of a regional mental health institute owned and operated by the department of mental health and substance abuse services or by or on behalf of the department of intellectual and developmental disabilities pertaining to an individual receiving home- and community-based waiver services or intermediate care facility/intellectual disability (ICF/ID) services.
