{"data":{"id":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-5-626","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"18-C M.R.S. §5-626","heading":"Appropriate forum","body":"1.  Decline jurisdiction.  A court of this State having jurisdiction under section 5‑623 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.\n2.  Actions by court that declines jurisdiction.  If a court of this State declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection 1, it shall either:\nA.  Dismiss or stay the proceeding; or\nB.  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.\n3.  Appropriate forum factors.  In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the court shall consider all relevant factors, which may include:\nA.  Any expressed preference of the respondent;\nB.  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;\nC.  The length of time the respondent was physically present in or was a legal resident of this State or another state;\nD.  The distance of the respondent from the court in each state;\nE.  The financial circumstances of the respondent's estate;\nF.  The nature and location of the evidence;\nG.  The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present evidence;\nH.  The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the proceeding; and\nI.  If an appointment were made, the court's ability to monitor the conduct of the guardian or conservator.","path":["TITLE 18-C: PROBATE CODE","PART 6: UNIFORM ADULT GUARDIANSHIP AND PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS JURISDICTION ACT"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/18-C/title18-Csec5-626.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"04ee11d1fa8a03d4da502a90a699ff7bee7564cfcf7307f36039d1412ef3e104","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-5-625","next":"us-me/18-c-m.r.s.-5-627"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}