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Rule 4:86-4.Order for Hearing

Last amended May 15, 2021 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026

In one sentenceRule 4:86-4 requires the hearing order to give at least 20 days' notice to the alleged incapacitated person and a list of interested parties, authorize appointed counsel to obtain medical records, allow the court to shorten or waive notice for good cause, require guardian training and background screening before appointment, appoint counsel for an unrepresented alleged incapacitated person, and sets out counsel's duties to interview that person, investigate, and file a report before the hearing.

Full Text of Rule 4:86-4

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(a) Contents of Order.
(1) If the court is satisfied with the sufficiency of the complaint and supporting affidavits and that further proceedings should be taken thereon, it shall enter an order fixing a date for hearing.
(2) The order shall require that at least 20 days’ notice thereof be given to the alleged incapacitated person, any person named as attorney-in-fact in any power of attorney executed by the alleged incapacitated person, any person named as health care representative in any health care directive executed by the alleged incapacitated person, and any person acting as trustee under a trust for the benefit of the alleged incapacitated person, the alleged incapacitated person’s spouse, children 18 years of age or over, parents, the person having custody of the alleged incapacitated person, the attorney appointed pursuant to R. 4:86-4(b), and such other persons as the court directs. Notice shall be effected by service of a copy of the order, complaint and supporting affidavits upon the alleged incapacitated person personally and upon each of the other persons in such manner as the court directs.
(3) The order for hearing shall expressly provide that appointed counsel for the alleged incapacitated person is authorized to seek and obtain medical and psychiatric information from all health care providers.
(4) The court may allow shorter notice or waive notice upon a showing of good cause. In such case, the order shall recite the basis for shortening or waiving notice, and proof shall be submitted at the hearing that such basis continues to exist.
(5) A separate notice shall be personally served on the alleged incapacitated person stating that if he or she desires to oppose the action, he or she may appear either in person or by attorney, and may demand a trial by jury.
(6) The order for hearing shall require that any proposed guardian complete guardianship training as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts; however, agencies authorized to act pursuant to P.L.1985, c. 298 (C.52:27G-20 et seq.), P.L.1985, c. 145 (C.30:6D-23 et seq.), P.L.1965, c. 59 (C.30:4-165.1 et seq.) and P.L.1970, c. 289 (C.30:4-165.7 et seq.) and public officials appointed as limited guardians of the person for medical purposes for individuals in psychiatric facilities listed in R.S.30:1-7 shall be exempt from this requirement.
(7) The order for hearing shall require that any proposed guardian comply applicable background screening policy for proposed guardians of incapacitated adults as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts, including but not limited to fingerprinting. A copy of the policy shall be provided with the order for hearing.
(8) If the alleged incapacitated person is not represented by counsel, the order shall include the appointment by the court of counsel for the alleged incapacitated person.
(b) Duties of Counsel.
(1) Counsel shall (i) personally interview the alleged incapacitated person; (ii) make inquiry of persons having knowledge of the alleged incapacitated person’s circumstances, his or her physical and mental state and his or her property; (iii) make reasonable inquiry to locate any will, powers of attorney, or health care directives previously executed by the alleged incapacitated person or to discover any interests the alleged incapacitated person may have as beneficiary of a will or trust.
(2) At least ten days prior to the hearing date, counsel shall file a report with the court and serve a copy thereof on plaintiff’s attorney and other parties who have formally appeared in the matter. The report shall be in such form and include all such provisions as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts, except to the extent that the court explicitly directs otherwise. The report shall include the following:
(i) the information developed by counsel’s inquiry;
(ii) recommendations concerning the court’s determination on the issue of incapacity;
(iii) any recommendations concerning the suitability of less restrictive alternatives such as a conservatorship or a delineation of those areas of decision-making that the alleged incapacitated person may be capable of exercising;
(iv) whether a case plan for the incapacitated person should thereafter be submitted to the court;
(v) whether the alleged incapacitated person has expressed dispositional preferences and, if so, counsel shall argue for their inclusion in the judgment of the court; and
(vi) recommendations concerning whether good cause exists for the court to order that any power of attorney, health care directive, or revocable trust created by the alleged incapacitated person be revoked or the authority of the person or persons acting thereunder be modified or restricted.
(3) If the alleged incapacitated person obtains other counsel, such counsel shall notify the court and appointed counsel at least ten days prior to the hearing date.
(c) Examination. If the affidavit or certification supporting the complaint is made pursuant to R. 4:86-2(c), the court may, on motion and upon notice to all persons entitled to notice of the hearing under paragraph (a), order the alleged incapacitated person to submit to an examination. The motion shall set forth the names and addresses of the physicians who will conduct the examination, and the order shall specify the time, place and conditions of the examination. Upon request, the report thereof shall be furnished to either the examined party or his or her attorney.
(d) Guardian Ad Litem. At any time prior to entry of judgment, where special circumstances come to the attention of the court by formal motion or otherwise, a guardian ad litem may, in addition to counsel, be appointed to evaluate the best interests of the alleged incapacitated person and to present that evaluation to the court.
(e) Compensation. The compensation of the attorney for the party seeking guardianship, appointed counsel, and of the guardian ad litem, if any, may be fixed by the court to be paid out of the estate of the alleged incapacitated person or in such other manner as the court shall direct.
End

Amendment History

New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.

Source-R.R. 4:102-4(a)(b). Paragraph (b) amended July 16, 1979 to be effective September 10, 1979; paragraph (a); amended July 21, 1980 to be effective September 8, 1980; paragraph (a); amended July 16, 1981 to be effective September 14, 1981; caption of former R. 4:83-4; amended, caption and text of paragraph (a); amended and in part redesignated as paragraph (b) and former paragraph (b) redesignated as paragraph (c) and; amended, and rule redesignated June 29, 1990 to be effective September 4, 1990; paragraph (b); amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraph (b); amended and paragraphs (d) and (e) added June 28, 1996 to be effective September 1, 1996; paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e); amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; paragraph (e); amended July 27, 2006 to be effective September 1, 2006; paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e); amended July 9, 2008 to be effective September 1, 2008; paragraph (a); amended, subparagraphs enumerated and paragraphs (a)(6) and (a)(7) adopted, paragraph (b); amended and subparagraphs enumerated, and paragraph (c); amended August 1, 2016 to be effective September 1, 2016; new subparagraph (a)(7) added and former subparagraph (a)(7) redesignated as (a)(8) March 15, 2021 to be effective May 15, 2021; subparagraph (b)(2); amended April 6, 2021 to be effective May 15, 2021.

Plain-English Summary

Once a complaint and its supporting affidavits satisfy the court, an order sets a hearing date and puts a detailed notice machine in motion. At least 20 days' notice goes to the alleged incapacitated person, any agent under a power of attorney or health care directive, any trustee, the person's spouse, adult children, parents, custodian, and appointed counsel, served along with copies of the order, complaint, and affidavits. A separate personal notice tells the alleged incapacitated person specifically that a jury trial can be demanded. The court can shorten or waive that notice for good cause, but the order has to explain why, and proof that the reason still holds has to come in at the hearing. The order also requires the proposed guardian to complete background screening, with no exemptions, and training unless the guardian is one of the listed agencies or public officials (a narrower carve-out than R. 4:86-2's) and, if the alleged incapacitated person has no lawyer, appoints one.

Appointed counsel has real work to do before the hearing: personally interviewing the alleged incapacitated person, asking around about that person's circumstances, health, and property, and searching for any will, power of attorney, or health care directive. At least ten days before the hearing, counsel files a report covering all of that, along with recommendations on incapacity, less restrictive alternatives like a conservatorship, the person's own stated preferences, and whether an existing power of attorney or trust should be revoked or modified. The court can also order an examination on motion and notice where the supporting affidavit came in under R. 4:86-2(c) after a refused examination, appoint a guardian ad litem alongside counsel where special circumstances warrant it, and fix compensation for counsel and any guardian ad litem out of the estate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice of the guardianship hearing must the alleged incapacitated person and other interested parties receive?

At least 20 days, unless the court shortens or waives notice for good cause shown on the record.

What must appointed counsel do before the hearing?

Personally interview the alleged incapacitated person, investigate that person's circumstances and property, search for any will or advance directive, and file a report at least ten days before the hearing covering findings and recommendations.

Can a guardian ad litem be appointed in addition to counsel?

Yes, at any point before judgment, where special circumstances warrant evaluating the alleged incapacitated person's best interests.

Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:86-4). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: order for guardianship hearingcounsel for alleged incapacitated personguardian ad litem