Mo. Rev. Stat. § 475.526
Appropriate forum
Missouri · Revised Statutes of Missouri Chapter 475 — Probate Code — Guardianship · Status: effective · Effective 2011-08-28
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- Citation
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 475.526, Appropriate forum, Missouri, version 1 as recorded 2026-09-29, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/1818655
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Full text
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.
2. 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.
3. In determining whether it is an appropriate forum, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including:
(1) Any expressed preference of the respondent;
(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;
(3) The length of time the respondent was physically present in or was a legal resident of this or another state;
(4) The distance of the respondent from the court in each state;
(5) The financial circumstances of the respondent's estate;
(6) The nature and location of the evidence;
(7) The ability of the court in each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present evidence;
(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the proceeding; and
(9) If an appointment were made, the court's ability to monitor the conduct of the guardian or conservator.