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AB 65

Revises provisions relating to guardianship. (BDR 13-470)

2025 Regular Session

Modernizes Nevada guardianship laws by expanding the state office and investigators’ duties, easing access to records, and updating service rules to streamline guardianship proceed

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 103.
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Bill Summary · AB 65

AB 65 — Summary (Chapter 103, 2025 session)

Status: Approved by the Governor (Chapter 103). Introduced: Dec. 3, 2024. Enacted: 2025.

Purpose
- Modernize and clarify Nevada guardianship statutes by (1) revising the State-level guardianship office and its staffing authority, (2) clarifying and expanding the duties and authorities of court-appointed and state-employed guardianship investigators, (3) removing certain procedural barriers in minor guardianship proceedings, and (4) adjusting service-of-process rules.

Key provisions and changes
- Renames State office and officer
- Changes the State Guardianship Compliance Office to the State Guardianship Office and the State Guardianship Compliance Officer to the State Guardianship Officer.
- Expands the Officer’s hiring authority to employ accountants and investigators “as the Officer deems necessary,” subject to legislative appropriations.

  • Investigators: scope, duties, reports, compensation

    • Confirms courts may appoint investigators after a guardianship petition is filed and specifies investigator duties, including:
    • Locating services and resources for the proposed protected person.
    • Determining competing interests in the guardianship appointment.
    • Investigating allegations affecting the proposed protected person.
    • Investigating the ability of a proposed guardian to provide for basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, medical care).
    • Locating close relatives and obtaining birth/death certificates.
    • Investigators must file reports with the court and parties describing the scope of the appointment and any special guardian powers needed.
    • Investigators are entitled to reasonable compensation from the proposed protected person’s estate; the court can order persons who unnecessarily caused an investigation to reimburse the estate.

  • Prohibition on fees for records

    • Governmental entities (as defined in NRS 239.005) may not charge a fee for providing copies of documents requested by guardianship investigators in connection with their investigations. Amendments specifically prohibit charging fees for access to certain records (including vital records) for investigators.

  • Service of process and publication

    • Revises service rules for citations and petitions in guardianship proceedings:
    • Courts may authorize alternative methods of service pursuant to the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure (NRCP) when appropriate.
    • Courts may waive publication requirements for service of citation under certain circumstances.
    • Adjusts related proof-of-service filing requirements.

  • Minor guardianship and immigration (SIJ) issues

    • Authorizes courts to appoint or extend a guardian for a protected minor or proposed protected minor who is seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; such guardianships terminate when the minor reaches 21 unless earlier terminated by the court.
    • Removes the requirement that petitioners in minor guardianship proceedings notify the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services when the minor is receiving or has received Medicaid benefits (eliminating a potentially duplicative notice requirement).

Notable amendments prior to enactment
- Earlier versions included investigator authority to obtain fingerprints and request criminal-history reports; that authority was removed in the adopted amendments and final enrolled bill. The final act focuses on investigators’ investigatory duties and access to non-fee records.

Who is affected
- District courts and court-appointed investigators, the State Guardianship Office and its officer, proposed/protected persons (adults and minors), proposed guardians, public guardians and related service providers, governmental record custodians (which must provide requested copies without charging investigators), and minors seeking SIJ designation (through expanded guardianship authority).

Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced Dec. 3, 2024; passed both houses with amendments during spring 2025; enrolled May 27, 2025; approved by the Governor and chaptered as Chapter 103 (2025). The act’s provisions take effect according to the bill’s effective-date language in the enrolled statute (see chaptered act for exact effective date).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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