Opinion
May 7, 1934.
July 13, 1934.
Guardian and ward — Person incompetent to manage affairs — Petition for discharge of guardian — Frequent applications — Refusal to consider petition — Abuse of discretion — Act of May 28, 1907, P.L. 292, Section 7.
A person who has been declared incompetent to manage his affairs and for whom a guardian has been appointed may, under Section 7 of the Act of May 28, 1907, P.L. 292, petition the court any time for the discharge of his guardian and request the court to find that he has regained his ability to take care of his property. The act does not imply, however, that a ward may annoy the court with frequent applications.
A court does not abuse its discretion in refusing to consider a petition for the discharge of a guardian where seven days prior to the filing of the petition, it dismissed a similar petition.
Appeal No. 91, October T., 1934, by petitioner from judgment of C.P., Centre County, February T., 1931, No. 34, in the case of In the Matter of Charles H. Tressler.
Before TREXLER, P.J., KELLER, CUNNINGHAM, BALDRIGE, STADTFELD, PARKER and JAMES, JJ. Affirmed.
Petition for discharge of guardian. Before PATTERSON, P.J., 24th Judicial District, specially presiding.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Superior Court.
The court refused the petition. Petitioner appealed.
Error assigned, among others, was the order of the court.
James L. Colbert, for appellant.
Vincent A. Baldauf, for appellee.
Argued May 7, 1934.
Charles H. Tressler is a war veteran, injured in the service. On November 19, 1930, the court of Centre County declared him incompetent to manage his affairs and appointed a guardian. Successively a number of people were appointed guardians and petitions were presented to the court to have the guardian removed and Tressler declared able to manage his own affairs.
The history of the case is quite complex and it is not necessary to set it out in detail. On August 30, 1933, a petition was presented and after hearing, dismissed. On October 26, 1933, a petition for the discharge of the guardian was presented and on November 3, 1933, refused. This was followed by a petition on November 10, 1933, which was on December 18, 1933, refused, and from the latter, an appeal was taken.
There is no question that under the Act of Assembly of 1907, P.L. 292, Sec. 7, the person who is declared incompetent may "at any time after the decree has been entered," ask to have a discharge of his guardian and a finding in the court that he has regained his ability to take care of his property. This does not imply that the ward can annoy the court by frequent applications. There is nothing before us that would indicate that there has been any abuse of discretion in the action of the lower court. The man each month gets his full allotment, except so much as the court has ordered for the support of his wife. He is not hurt by the delay, except insofar that if he is of sound mind and capable of managing his affairs, he is entitled to be declared so by the court, but the court may interpose a reasonable time in which the matter may remain in abeyance. No doubt the way may be opened for this man after a reasonable time has elapsed to again petition the court, but we cannot convict the court of any abuse of discretion for refusing to consider a petition that was presented so soon after one had been refused.
The judgment of the lower court is affirmed.