{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-475.526","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 475.526","heading":"Appropriate forum.","body":"1. A court of this state having jurisdiction under section 475.523 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. If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection 1 of this section, 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 protective order be promptly filed in another state.\n3. In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:\n(1) Any expressed preference of the respondent;\n(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;\n(3) The length of time the respondent was physically present in or was a legal resident of this or another state;\n(4) The distance of the respondent from the court in each state;\n(5) The financial circumstances of the respondent's estate;\n(6) The nature and location of the evidence;\n(7) The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present evidence;\n(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the proceeding; and\n(9) If an appointment were made, the court's ability to monitor the conduct of the guardian or conservator.","path":["Title XXXI - TRUSTS AND ESTATES OF DECEDENTS AND PERSONS UNDER DISABILITY","Chapter 475 - Probate Code — Guardianship"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=475.526","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:28Z","sha256":"2f597c581ac0678d091b33312f4a136096fde86f0eb1b82ec92d31b3f9051564","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-475.525","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-475.527"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}