A hearing on a petition to terminate, revoke, or modify shall be conducted in the same manner and the protected person shall have the same rights as would obtain at a hearing on a petition for the appointment of a guardian or conservator. The protected person and the guardian or conservator shall attend the hearing except for good cause shown.

The sole function of the jury, if requested, shall be to determine whether the protected person is no longer a person for whom a guardian or conservator may be appointed. All other questions of fact and the determination of the relief to be granted shall be for the court alone. The court may deny a request for a jury if a jury was empaneled on a previous petition to terminate, revoke, or modify and the court is reasonably satisfied that there has not been a substantial change of circumstances.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 29A-5-509

  • 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: includes a "limited guardian" and any reference to a "conservator" includes a "limited conservator. See South Dakota Codified Laws 29A-5-102
  • person: refers to either an "interested person" a "person alleged to need protection" or a "protected person" as the context requires, and does not refer to a "person" as defined in §. See South Dakota Codified Laws 29A-5-102

Source: SL 1993, ch 213, § 72; SDCL 30-36-72; SL 1995, ch 167, § 181.