{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-21-2402.07","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 21-2402.07","heading":"Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.","body":"(a)\nIf at any time the Superior Court determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because of unjustifiable conduct, the court may:\n(1)\nDecline to exercise jurisdiction;\n(2)\nExercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of fashioning an appropriate remedy to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the respondent or the protection of the respondent’s property or prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is filed in a court of another state having jurisdiction; or\n(3)\nContinue to exercise jurisdiction after considering:\n(A)\nThe extent to which the respondent and all persons required to be notified of the proceedings have acquiesced in the exercise of the court’s jurisdiction;\n(B)\nWhether it is a more appropriate forum than the court of any other state under the factors set forth in § 21-2402.06(c); and\n(C)\nWhether the court of any other state would have jurisdiction under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of § 21-2402.03.\n\n(b)\nIf the Superior Court determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because a party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction engaged in unjustifiable conduct, it may assess against that party necessary and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, investigative fees, court costs, communication expenses, witness fees and expenses, and travel expenses. The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses of any kind against the District of Columbia or a governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of the District unless authorized by law other than this chapter.","path":["Title 21. Fiduciary Relations and Persons with Mental Illness. [Enacted title]","Chapter 24. Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction; Uniform Act.","Subchapter II. Jurisdiction."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/21-2402.07","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"4d9a4cfd0699b92dfaf3592967a974785244fcd6c983eb3304b2306597d20c61","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-21-2402.06","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-21-2402.08"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}