<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 29A-5A-206 - Appropriate forum. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2052320Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052320SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2052320CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2052320Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052320DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2052320Normal-000001 { text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } p.s2052320Normal-000002 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2052320000003 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2052320SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2052320SCL-000004 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=29A-5A-206"><span class="s2052320SENU">29A-5A-206</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052320SENU">. </span><span class="s2052320CL">Appropriate forum.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000000"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(a) A court of this state having jurisdiction under § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=29A-5A-203"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">29A-5A-203</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont"> to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order may decline to exercise its jurisdiction if it determines at any time that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000001"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(b) If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection (a), it shall either dismiss or stay the proceeding. The court may impose any condition the court considers just and proper, including the condition that a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order be filed promptly in another state.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000001"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(c) In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    Any expressed preference of the respondent;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    Whether abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the respondent has occurred or is likely to occur and which state could best protect the respondent from the abuse, neglect, or exploitation;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    The length of time the respondent was physically present in or was a legal resident of this or another state;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    The distance of the respondent from the court in each state;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(5)    The financial circumstances of the respondent's estate;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(6)    The nature and location of the evidence;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(7)    The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present evidence;</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(8)    The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the proceeding; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal-000002"><span class="s2052320DefaultParagraphFont">(9)    If an appointment were made, the court's ability to monitor the conduct of the guardian or conservator.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052320000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2052320Normal"><span class="s2052320SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2052320SCL-000004"> SL 2011, ch 135, § 206.</span></p></div></body></html>