Bill > HB18

This bill amends Pennsylvania's guardianship review procedures to provide more structured and timely hearings for interested parties seeking to terminate or modify a guardianship order. Specifically, the bill requires that when a petition is filed to modify or terminate a guardianship, the court must schedule a hearing within 30 days of the petition's filing and hold the actual review hearing no later than 60 days after filing. The bill allows the court to extend this timeline beyond 60 days only if it provides a written justification, such as allowing time for an interested party to participate, ensuring counsel is prepared, completing medical evaluations, or giving parties time to prepare. The hearing must be conducted in the presence of the incapacitated person and their attorney, following established procedural standards. The court can continue the guardianship if it finds it necessary and no less restrictive alternatives exist, or discharge the guardianship if such alternatives are available. Additionally, to prevent repetitive hearings, the bill allows courts to decline scheduling a new review hearing within 180 days if the same party has recently requested a hearing and no new issues or facts are presented. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=18