Appointment, duties and compensation of investigators.
1. Upon filing of the petition, or any time thereafter, the court may appoint one or more investigators to:
(a) Locate persons who perform services needed by the proposed ward and other public and private resources available to the proposed ward.
(b) Determine any competing interests in the appointment of a guardian.
(c) Investigate allegations or claims which affect a ward or proposed ward.
2. An investigator may be an employee of a social service agency, family service officer of the court, public guardian, physician or other qualified person.
3. An investigator shall file with the court and parties a report concerning the scope of the appointment of the guardian and any special powers which a guardian would need to assist the proposed ward.
4. An investigator who is appointed pursuant to this section is entitled to reasonable compensation from the estate of the proposed ward. If the court finds that a person has unnecessarily or unreasonably caused the investigation, the court may order the person to pay to the estate of the proposed ward all or part of the expenses associated with the investigation.
Last modified: February 25, 2006