For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) “Court” means the Court of Chancery or the court which has jurisdiction for the appointment of guardians for the person, or property, or both, pursuant to this chapter.

(2) “Guardian” means a court-appointed guardian.

(3) “Guardianship Commission” means the Delaware Guardianship Commission.

(4) The term “last resort” includes any of the following:

a. Circumstances in which there is no other suitable person related to the individual willing or able to serve as surrogate decision maker guardian, representative payee, or VA fiduciary.

b. Circumstances in which a person willing or able to serve, or already serving, as a validly appointed agent of a durable power of attorney, a surrogate decision maker, representative payee, VA fiduciary, or a guardian, is available but sufficient cause has been found by the court that the individual available or so acting is not suitable to serve and that the appointment of the Public Guardian is in the best interest of the person who is incapacitated.

c. Exceptional circumstances have been found by the court to establish that appointment of the Public Guardian is in the best interest of the person who is incapacitated.

(5) “Person who is incapacitated” means a “person with a disability” as that term is defined under § 3901(a)(2) of this title.

(6) “Representative payee” means a person appointed by the Social Security Administration to receive Social Security or SSI benefits for an individual who cannot manage or direct the management of the individual’s Social Security or SSI benefits.

(7) “VA fiduciary” means a person appointed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to receive VA benefits for an individual who is unable to manage the individual’s VA benefits.

78 Del. Laws, c. 40, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 179, §§ ?121-123; 82 Del. Laws, c. 90, § 4;

Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 12 Sec. 3982

  • Court: means the Court of Chancery. See Delaware Code Title 12 Sec. 39A-101
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Guardian: is a "guardian of the person" as that term is used in this title. See Delaware Code Title 12 Sec. 39A-101
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person who is incapacitated: shall mean a "person with a disability" as that term is defined in § 3901(a)(2) of this title. See Delaware Code Title 12 Sec. 39A-101
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC