4:86-2. Complaint; Accompanying Documents; Alternative Affidavits or Certifications
(a) Complaint. The allegations of the complaint shall be verified as prescribed by R. 1:4-7. The complaint shall state:
(1) the name, age, domicile and address of the plaintiff, of the alleged incapacitated person and of the alleged incapacitated person’s spouse, if any;
(2) the plaintiff’s relationship to the alleged incapacitated person;
(3) the plaintiff’s interest in the action;
(4) the names, addresses and ages of the alleged incapacitated
person’s children, if any, and the names and addresses of the alleged incapacitated person’s parents and nearest of kin, meaning at a minimum all persons of the same degree of relationship to the alleged incapacitated person as the plaintiff;
(5) the name and address of the person or institution having the care and custody of the alleged incapacitated person;
(6) if the alleged incapacitated person has lived in an institution, the period or periods of time the alleged incapacitated person has lived therein, the date of the commitment or confinement, and by what authority committed or confined; and
(7) the name and address of 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.
(b) Accompanying Documents. The complaint shall have annexed thereto:
(1) An affidavit or certification stating the nature, description, and fair market value of the following, in such form as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts:
(A) all real estate in which the alleged incapacitated person has or may have a present or future interest, stating the interest, describing the real estate fully and stating the assessed valuation thereof;
(B) all the personal estate which he or she is, will or may in all probability become entitled to, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, securities and investment accounts; money on hand, annuities, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit in banks and notes or other indebtedness due the alleged incapacitated person; pensions and retirement accounts, including annuities and profit sharing plans;
miscellaneous personal property; and the nature and total monthly amount of any income which may be payable to the alleged incapacitated person; and
(C) the encumbrance amount of any debt including any secured associated debt related to the real estate or personal estate of the alleged incapacitated person;
(2) Affidavits or certifications of two physicians having qualifications set forth in N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.2t, or the affidavit or certification of one such physician and one licensed practicing psychologist as defined in N.J.S.A. 45:14B-2, in such form as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 3B:12- 24.1(d), the affidavits or certifications may make disclosures about the alleged incapacitated person. If an alleged incapacitated person has been committed to a public institution and is confined therein, one of the affidavits or certifications shall be that of the chief executive officer, the medical director, or the chief of service providing that person is also the physician with overall responsibility for the professional program of care and treatment in the administrative unit of the institution. However, where an alleged incapacitated person is domiciled within this State but resident elsewhere, the affidavits or certifications required by this rule may be those of persons who are residents of the state or jurisdiction of the alleged incapacitated person’s residence. Each affiant shall have made a personal examination of the alleged incapacitated person not more than 30 days prior to the filing of the complaint, but said time period may be relaxed by the court on an ex parte showing of good cause. To support the complaint, each affiant shall state:
(A) the date and place of the examination;
(B) whether the affiant has treated or merely examined the alleged
incapacitated individual;
(C) whether the affiant is disqualified under R. 4:86-3;
(D) the diagnosis and prognosis and factual basis therefor;
(E) for purposes of ensuring that the alleged incapacitated person is the
same individual who was examined, a physical description of the person examined, including but not limited to sex, age and weight;
(F) the affiant’s opinion of the extent to which the alleged incapacitated person is unfit and unable to govern himself or herself and to manage his or her affairs and shall set forth with particularity the circumstances and conduct of the alleged incapacitated person upon which this opinion is based, including a history of the alleged incapacitated person’s condition;
(G) if applicable, the extent to which the alleged incapacitated person retains sufficient capacity to retain the right to manage specific areas, such as residential, educational, medical, legal, vocational or financial decisions; and
(H) an opinion on whether the alleged incapacitated person is capable of attending or otherwise participating in the hearing and, if not, the reasons for the individual’s inability;
(3) An affidavit or certification setting forth the criminal and civil judgment history of each proposed guardian, in such form as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts. The certification may be supplemented at any time up to the time of qualification and acceptance of appointment. If no proposed guardian has been identified at the time of the filing of the complaint, the certification shall be filed no later than prior to the entry of the judgment of legal incapacity and appointment of guardian. The court will consider the relevant history as provided in the certification and through any background screening policy for proposed guardians of incapacitated adults promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts, including but not limited to fingerprinting. Except as specifically ordered by the court pursuant to subparagraph (H), the following shall be exempt from this requirement:
(A) individuals who are the parents in a parent and child relationship with an alleged incapacitated person, as “parent and child relationship” is defined by the New Jersey Parentage Act, N.J.S.A. 9:17-39;
(B) individuals who are married to an alleged incapacitated person in accordance with N.J.S.A. 37:1-29 et seq., in a civil union with an alleged incapacitated person as defined by N.J.S.A. 37:1-29, or in a domestic partnership with an alleged incapacitated person as defined by N.J.S.A. 26:8A-3;
(C) pendente lite temporary guardians appointed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 3B:12-24.1(c);
(D) 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.);
(E) public officials appointed as limited guardians of the person for medical purposes for individuals in psychiatric facilities listed in R.S.30:1-7;
(F) banks, trust companies, credit unions, savings and loan associations, or other financial institutions duly licensed or authorized to conduct business under applicable state or federal laws; and
(G) attorneys admitted to practice law and in good standing in the State of New Jersey; and
(4) A Case Information Statement in such form as promulgated by the Administrative Director of the Courts. Said Case Information Statement shall include the date of birth and Social Security number of the alleged incapacitated person.
(c) Alternative Affidavits or Certifications.
(1) If the plaintiff cannot secure the information required in paragraph (b)(1), the complaint shall so state and give the reasons therefor, and the affidavit or certification submitted shall in that case contain as much information as can be secured in the exercise of reasonable diligence.
(2) In lieu of the affidavits or certifications provided for in paragraph (b)(2), an affidavit or certification of one affiant having the qualifications as required therein shall be submitted, stating that he or she has endeavored to make a personal examination of the alleged incapacitated person not more than 30 days prior to the filing of the complaint but that the alleged incapacitated person or those in charge of him or her have refused or are unwilling to have the affiant make such an examination. The time period herein prescribed may be relaxed by the court on an ex parte showing of good cause.
Note: Source — R.R. 4:102-2; former R. 4:83-2 amended and rule redesignated June 29, 1990 to be effective September 4, 1990; paragraphs (b) and (c) amended July 14, 1992 to be effective September 1, 1992; paragraph (b) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; paragraphs (b) and (c) amended July 28, 2004 to be effective September 1, 2004; paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) amended July 9, 2008 to be effective September 1, 2008; caption amended, and paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) amended and captions added August 1, 2016 to be effective September 1, 2016; new subparagraph (b)(3) added and former subparagraph (b)(3) redesignated as (b)(4) March 15, 2021 to be effective May 15, 2021.
