1. A petitioner may request the court to appoint a temporary guardian for a proposed protected person who is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of physical harm or to a need for immediate medical attention. To support the request, the petitioner must set forth in a petition and present to the court under oath:

(a) Documentation which shows the proposed protected person faces a substantial and immediate risk of physical harm or needs immediate medical attention and lacks capacity to respond to the risk of harm or obtain the necessary medical attention. Such documentation must include, without limitation, a certificate signed by a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in this State or who is employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a letter signed by any governmental agency in this State which conducts investigations or a police report indicating:

(1) That the proposed protected person is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of physical harm or to a need for immediate medical attention;

(2) Whether the proposed protected person presents a danger to himself or herself or others; and

(3) Whether the proposed protected person is or has been subjected to abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation or abandonment; and

(b) Facts which show that:

(1) The petitioner has tried in good faith to notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 by telephone or in writing before the filing of the petition;

(2) The proposed protected person would be exposed to an immediate risk of physical harm if the petitioner were to provide notice to the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 before the court determines whether to appoint a temporary guardian; or

(3) Giving notice to the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 is not feasible under the circumstances.

2. The court may appoint a temporary guardian to serve for 10 days if the court:

(a) Finds reasonable cause to believe that the proposed protected person is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of physical harm or to a need for immediate medical attention; and

(b) Is satisfied that the petitioner has tried in good faith to notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 or that giving notice to those persons is not feasible under the circumstances, or determines that such notice is not required pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1.

3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, after the appointment of a temporary guardian, the petitioner shall attempt in good faith to notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047, including, without limitation, notice of any hearing to extend the temporary guardianship. If the petitioner fails to make such an effort, the court may terminate the temporary guardianship.

4. If, before the appointment of a temporary guardian, the court determined that advance notice was not required pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (b) of subsection 1, the petitioner shall notify the persons entitled to notice pursuant to NRS 159.047 without undue delay, but not later than 48 hours after the appointment of the temporary guardian or not later than 48 hours after the petitioner discovers the existence, identity and location of the persons entitled to notice pursuant to that section. If the petitioner fails to provide such notice, the court may terminate the temporary guardianship.

5. Not later than 10 days after the date of the appointment of a temporary guardian pursuant to subsection 2, the court shall hold a hearing to determine the need to extend the temporary guardianship. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, the court may extend the temporary guardianship until a general or special guardian is appointed pursuant to subsection 8 if:

(a) The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the proposed protected person is unable to respond to a substantial and immediate risk of physical harm or to a need for immediate medical attention; and

(b) The extension of the temporary guardianship is necessary and in the best interests of the proposed protected person.

6. If the court appoints a temporary guardian or extends the temporary guardianship pursuant to this section, the court shall limit the authority of the temporary guardian to that which is necessary to perform any actions required to ensure the health, safety or care of a proposed protected person, including, without limitation:

(a) Responding to the substantial and immediate risk of physical harm or to a need for immediate medical attention; and

(b) Applying for Medicaid or other appropriate assistance, coverage or support for the proposed protected person for the purpose of providing adequate care for and ensuring the appropriate placement of the proposed protected person.

7. The court may not extend a temporary guardianship pursuant to subsection 5 beyond the initial period of 10 days unless the petitioner demonstrates that:

(a) The provisions of NRS 159.0475 have been satisfied; or

(b) Notice by publication pursuant to the Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure is currently being undertaken.

8. The court may extend the temporary guardianship, for good cause shown, for not more than two successive 60-day periods, except that the court shall not cause the temporary guardianship to continue longer than 5 months unless extraordinary circumstances are shown.

9. If a court is making a determination regarding the extension of a temporary guardianship or the issuance of any ex parte or emergency order, the court may consider the actions taken by a temporary guardian to carry out any requested activities for the benefit of a proposed protected person during the temporary guardianship.

(Added to NRS by 2001, 867; A 2003, 1778; 2007, 2028; 2009, 1650; 2013, 912; 2015, 820; 2017, 874; 2019, 1236)