West Virginia Code
Article 3. Guardianship and Conservatorship Administration
§44A-3-1. Duties of Guardian of Protected Person

(a) The guardian of a protected person owes a fiduciary duty to the protected person and is responsible for obtaining provision for and making decisions with respect to the protected person’s support, care, health, habilitation, education, therapeutic treatment, social interactions with friends and family, and, if not inconsistent with an order of commitment or custody, to determine the protected person’s residence.
(b) A guardian shall maintain sufficient contact of not less than once very six months with the protected person to know of the protected person’s capabilities, limitations, needs, and opportunities.
(c) A guardian shall be required to seek prior court authorization to change the protected person’s residence to another state, to terminate or consent to a termination of the protected person’s parental rights, to initiate a change in the protected person’s marital status, to deviate from a protected person’s living will or medical power of attorney, or to revoke or amend a durable power of attorney executed by the protected person.
(d) A guardian shall exercise authority only to the extent necessitated by the protected person’s limitations, and, where feasible, shall encourage the protected person to participate in decisions, to act on his or her own behalf, and to develop or regain the capacity to manage personal affairs.
(e) A guardian shall, to the extent known, consider the express desires and personal values of the protected person when making decisions, and shall otherwise act in the protected person’s best interests and exercise reasonable care, diligence, and prudence.
(f) Upon the petition of an interested party or upon its own motion, the court or Mental Hygiene Commissioner may order the guardian to take appropriate action to address the needs and best interests of the protected person as required by this section.

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