Chapter 5905 | Veterans' Guardianship Law

Section 5905.01 | Veterans' guardianship law definitions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

As used in sections 5905.01 to 5905.19, inclusive, of the Revised Code:

(A) "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, or an association.

(B) "Veterans' administration" means the veterans' administration, its predecesssors, or successors.

(C) "Income" means moneys received from the veterans' administration and revenue or profit from any property wholly or partially acquired therewith.

(D) "Estate" means income on hand and assets acquired partially or wholly with "income."

(E) "Benefits" means all moneys paid or payable by the United States through the veterans' administration.

(F) "Administrator" means the administrator of veterans' affairs of the United States or his successor.

(G) "Ward" means a beneficiary of the veterans' administration.

(H) "Guardian" means any fiduciary for the person or estate of a ward.

Section 5905.02 | Commitment to the United States veterans' administration.

• Effective: April 6, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 281 - 134th General Assembly

Whenever it appears that a person is eligible for care or treatment by the veterans' administration or other agency of the United States, and hospitalization is necessary for the proper care or treatment of such person, the probate court, upon receipt of a certificate from the veterans' administration or such other agency showing that facilities are available and such person is eligible for care or treatment therein, may order such person to said veterans' administration or other agency for care and treatment.

Upon admission, such person shall be subject to the applicable regulations of the veterans' administration or other agency of the United States. The chief officer of any hospital to which any person is admitted pursuant to hospitalization as provided in sections 5905.01 to 5905.19 of the Revised Code, or under the law in effect at the time of such admission, shall have the same powers as are exercised by heads of hospitals for mental diseases and the department of mental health and addiction services with respect to the retention, transfer, parole, or discharge of the person hospitalized; provided no person shall be transferred to a hospital operated by the state or any political subdivision thereof without the consent of such department.

The right of such person to appear and defend shall not be denied.

The judgment or order of hospitalization by a court of competent jurisdiction of another state ordering a person to the veterans' administration or other agency of the United States, or any hospital operated by any such agency, for care or treatment shall have the same effect as to such person while in this state as in the state in which the court entering such judgment or making such order is situated, provided that no nonresident ordered to a veterans' administration facility located in Ohio shall thereby acquire a legal settlement in Ohio.

Upon receipt of a certificate that facilities are available in any such hospital operated by the United States for the care or treatment of any person ordered to any hospital for persons with mental illnesses or other hospital in this state for the care of persons similarly afflicted, and that such person is eligible for such care or treatment, such department may transfer any such person to the veterans' administration or other agency of the United States in the state. Upon effecting any such transfer, the ordering court shall be notified thereof by the transferring agency; provided that no such person shall be transferred if the person is confined pursuant to conviction of any crime or misdemeanor, or if the person has been acquitted of any such charge solely on the ground of insanity, unless prior to such transfer the court originally ordering such person enters an order for such transfer after appropriate motion and hearing.

Any person transferred as provided in this section is ordered to the veterans' administration or other agency of the United States pursuant to the original order as though the person had been originally so ordered.

Last updated March 10, 2023 at 1:12 PM

Section 5905.03 | Administrator shall be a party in interest.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The administrator shall be a party in interest in any proceeding for the appointment or removal of a guardian or for the removal of the disability of minority or mental incapacity of award, and in any suit or other proceeding affecting in any manner the administration by the guardian of the estate of any present or former ward whose estate includes assets derived in whole or in part from benefits paid by the veterans' administration before or after September 17, 1947. Not less than five days prior to hearing in such matter, notice in writing of the time and place thereof shall be given by mail, unless waived in writing, to the office of the veterans' administration having jurisdiction over the area in which any such suit or proceeding is pending.

Section 5905.04 | Appointment of guardian.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Whenever, pursuant to any law of the United States or regulation of the veterans' administration, it is necessary prior to payment of benefits that a guardian be appointed, the appointment may be made in the manner provided in sections 5905.05 to 5905.09, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 5905.05 | Petition for appointment of guardian.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A petition for the appointment of a guardian may be filed by any relative or friend of the ward or by any person who is authorized to file such a petition. If there is no authorized person or if the authorized person fails to file such a petition within thirty days after mailing of notice by the veterans' administration to the last known address of the person indicating the necessity for such petition, a petition for appointment may be filed by any resident of this state.

The petition for appointment shall set forth:

(A) The name, age, and place of residence of the ward;

(B) The name and place of residence of the nearest relative, if known;

(C) The fact that the ward is entitled to receive benefits payable by or through the veterans' administration;

(D) The amount of money then due and the amount of probable future payments;

(E) The name and address of the person or institution having actual custody of the ward;

(F) The name, age, relationship, occupation, and address of the proposed guardian;

(G) The number of wards for whom the nominee is presently acting as guardian, if the nominee is a natural person.

Notwithstanding any law as to priority of persons entitled to appointment, or the nomination in the petition, the court may appoint some other individual or a bank or trust company as guardian, if the court determines it is for the best interest of the ward.

In the case of a mentally incompetent ward the petition shall show that such ward has been rated incompetent by the veterans' administration on examination in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the veterans' administration.

Section 5905.06 | Limitation of guardianship - exception.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person other than a bank or trust company shall be guardian of more than five wards at one time, unless all the wards are members of one family. Upon presentation of a petition by an attorney of the veterans' administration or other interested person alleging that a guardian is acting in a fiduciary capacity for more than five wards and requesting his discharge for that reason, the probate court, upon proof substantiating the petition, shall require a final accounting forthwith from such guardian and shall discharge him from guardianship in excess of five and forthwith appoint a successor.

Section 5905.07 | Guardian of minor ward.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Where a petition is filed for the appointment of a guardian for a minor as required by section 5905.05 of the Revised Code, a certificate of the administrator or his authorized representative setting forth the age of such minor as shown by the records of the veterans' administration and the fact that the appointment of a guardian is a condition precedent to the payment of any money due the minor by the veterans' administration shall be prima-facie evidence of the necessity for such appointment.

Section 5905.08 | Guardian of mentally incompetent ward.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Where a petition is filed for the appointment of a guardian for a mentally incompetent ward as required by section 5905.05 of the Revised Code, a certificate of the administrator or his authorized representative that such person has been rated incompetent by the veterans' administration on examination in accordance with the laws and regulations governing such veterans' administration and that the appointment of a guardian is a condition precedent to the payment of any money due such ward by the veterans' administration shall be prima-facie evidence of the necessity for such appointment.

Section 5905.09 | Notice to be given.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Upon the filing of a petition for the appointment of a guardian under section 5905.05 of the Revised Code, notice shall be given to the veterans' administration as provided by section 5905.03 of the Revised Code. Notice shall be given to the ward and to other persons, as to whom notice is required, in the manner provided by law.

Section 5905.10 | Bond of guardian.

• Effective: October 8, 1992
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 427 - 119th General Assembly

Upon the appointment of a guardian pursuant to sections 5905.04 to 5905.09 of the Revised Code, he shall execute and file a bond to be approved by the probate court in an amount, in the form, and conditioned as required of guardians generally under sections 2109.04 and 2109.12 of the Revised Code. The court from time to time may require the guardian to file an additional bond.

If a bond is tendered by a guardian with personal sureties, there shall be at least two personal sureties, and they shall file with the court a certificate that shall describe the real and personal property owned and shall state that each personal surety is worth the sum named in the bond as the penalty of the bond, over and above all his debts and liabilities and the aggregate of other bonds on which he is principal or surety and exclusive of property exempt from execution. The court may require additional security or may require a corporate surety bond, the premium of which shall be paid from the ward's estate.

Section 5905.11 | Annual account filed with the court.

• Effective: October 31, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 85 - 124th General Assembly

Every guardian who has received or shall receive on account of the guardian's ward any things of value from the veterans administration shall file with the probate court annually, on the anniversary date of the appointment, in addition to any other accounts required by the court, a full and accurate account of all things of value received by the guardian, all earnings, interest, or profits derived from those things of value, all property acquired with those things of value, and all disbursements from those things of value. The account shall show the balance of those things of value in the guardian's hands at the date of the account and how it is invested.

The guardian, at the time of filing any account, shall exhibit all securities or investments held by the guardian to an officer of the depository in which the securities or investments are held for safekeeping, to an authorized representative of the corporation that is surety on the guardian's bond, to the judge or clerk of a court of record in this state, or, upon request of the guardian or other interested party, to any other reputable person designated by the probate court, who shall certify in writing that the judge, clerk, or other person has examined the securities or investments and identified them with those described in the account and shall note any omissions or discrepancies. If the depository is the guardian, the certifying officer shall not be the officer verifying the account. The guardian may exhibit the securities or investments to the court, which shall indorse on the account and copy of the account a certificate that the securities or investments shown in the account as held by the guardian were each in fact exhibited to the court and that those exhibited to the court were the same as those shown in the account, and shall note any omission or discrepancy. The certificate and the certificate of an official of the bank in which are deposited any funds for which the guardian is accountable showing the amount on deposit shall be prepared and signed in duplicate, and one of each shall be filed by the guardian with the guardian's account.

At the time of filing any account in the court, a certified copy of the account and a signed duplicate of each certificate filed with the court shall be sent by the guardian to the office of the veterans administration having jurisdiction over the area in which the court is located. A signed duplicate or certified copy of any pleading pertaining to an account, or to any matter other than an account, that is filed in the guardianship proceedings or in any proceeding for the purpose of removing the disability of minority or mental incapacity, shall be furnished by the person filing the pleading to the proper office of the veterans administration. Unless hearing is waived in writing by the attorney of the veterans administration and by all other persons entitled to notice, the court shall fix a time and place for the hearing on the account in the manner provided by section 2109.32 of the Revised Code for publishing fiduciary accounts, unless a different available date is stipulated in writing. Unless waived in writing, written notice of the time and place of hearing shall be given to the veterans administration office concerned not less than fifteen days prior to the date fixed for the hearing. The notice may be given by mail in which event it shall be deposited in the mails not less than fifteen days prior to that date. The court or its clerk shall furnish to that veterans administration office a copy of each order entered in any guardianship proceeding in which the administrator is an interested party.

If the guardian is accountable for property derived from sources other than the veterans administration, the guardian shall be accountable under section 2109.302 of the Revised Code, and, as to the other property, the guardian shall be entitled to the compensation provided by section 2109.23 of the Revised Code. The account for other property shall be combined with the account filed in accordance with this section unless otherwise ordered by the court.

Section 5905.12 | Failure to file account.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If any guardian fails to file with the probate court any account as required by section 5905.11 of the Revised Code, or by an order of the court, when any account is due, or within thirty days after citation issues as provided by section 2109.31 of the Revised Code, or fails to furnish the veterans' administration a true copy of any account, petition, or pleading as required by sections 5905.01 to 5905.19, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the court may remove such guardian for such failure.

Section 5905.13 | Compensation of guardian.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Compensation payable to guardians shall be based upon services rendered and shall not exceed five per cent of the amount of moneys received during the period covered by the account required by section 5905.11 of the Revised Code. In the event of extraordinary services by any guardian, the probate court, upon petition and hearing thereon, may authorize reasonable additional compensation. A copy of the petition and notice of hearing thereon shall be given the proper office of the veterans' administration in the manner provided in the case of hearing on a guardian's account or other pleading. No commission or compensation shall be allowed on the moneys or other assets received from a prior guardian nor upon the amount received from liquidation of loans or other investments.

Section 5905.14 | Investment of surplus funds of estate.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Every guardian shall invest the surplus funds of his ward's estate in such securities or property as is authorized under section 2109.37 of the Revised Code, but only upon prior order of the probate court; except that the funds may be invested, without prior court authorization, in direct unconditional interest-bearing obligations of this state or of the United States and in obligations the interest and principal of which are unconditionally guaranteed by the United States. A signed duplicate or certified copy of the petition for authority to invest shall be furnished the proper office of the veterans' administration, and notice of hearing thereon shall be given said office as provided in the case of hearing on a guardian's account.

Section 5905.15 | Provisions applicable to income and estate.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Sections 5905.01 to 5905.19, inclusive, of the Revised Code relating to surety bonds and the administration of estates of wards shall apply to all "income" and "estate," whether the guardian was appointed under such sections or under any other law of this state.

Section 5905.16 | Support of person other than ward.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A guardian shall not apply any portion of the income or the estate for the support or maintenance of any person other than the ward except upon petition to and prior order of the probate court after a hearing. A signed duplicate or certified copy of said petition shall be furnished the proper office of the veterans' administration and notice of hearing thereon shall be given said office as provided in the case of hearing on a guardian's account or other pleading.

Section 5905.17 | Real estate may be purchased by guardian.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The probate court may authorize the purchase of the entire fee simple title to real estate in this state in which the guardian has no interest, but only as a home for the ward, or to protect his interest, or, if he is not a minor, as a home for his dependent family. Such purchase of real estate shall not be made except upon the entry of an order of the court after hearing upon verified petition. A copy of the petition shall be furnished the proper office of the veterans' administration and notice of hearing thereon shall be given said office as provided in the case of hearing on a guardian's account.

Before authorizing such investment the court shall require written evidence of value, title, and the advisability of acquiring such real estate. Title shall be taken in the ward's name. This section does not limit the right of the guardian on behalf of his ward to bid and to become the purchaser of real estate at a sale thereof pursuant to decree of foreclosure of lien held by or for the ward, or at a trustee's sale, to protect the ward's right in the property so foreclosed or sold; nor does it limit the right of the guardian, if it is necessary to protect the ward's interest and upon prior order of the court in which the guardianship is pending, to agree with cotenants of the ward for a partition in kind, or to purchase from cotenants the entire undivided interests held by them, or to bid and purchase such interests at a sale under a partition decree, or to compromise adverse claims of title to the ward's realty.

Section 5905.18 | Certification of public record without charge.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a copy of any public record is required by the veterans' administration to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate in benefits made available by the veterans' administration or in the furtherance of any proceedings under sections 5905.01 to 5905.19, inclusive, of the Revised Code, the official custodian of such public record shall without charge provide the applicant for such benefits, any person acting on his behalf, or the authorized representative of the veterans' administration with a certified copy of such record.

Section 5905.19 | Termination of guardianship.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In addition to any other sections of the Revised Code relating to judicial restoration and discharge of a guardian, a certificate by the veterans' administration showing that a minor ward has attained majority, or that an incompetent ward has been rated competent by the veterans' administration upon examination in accordance with law shall be prima-facie evidence that the ward has attained majority or has recovered his competency. Upon hearing after notice as provided by sections 5905.01 to 5905.19, inclusive, of the Revised Code, and the determination by the probate court that the ward has attained majority or has recovered his competency, an order shall be entered to that effect and the guardian shall file a final account. Upon hearing after notice to the former ward and to the veterans' administration as in case of other accounts upon approval of the final account and upon delivery to the ward of the assets due him from the guardian, the guardian shall be discharged and his sureties released.