and source of a medical diagnosis, without requiring the identification of the
illness in question;
(4) State whether there are any lawsuits, in this or any other jurisdiction,
involving the minor child and, if so, identify the parties, the case numbers,
and the states and counties where filed; and
(5) Be verified by the petitioner in front of a notary public or another person
authorized to administer oaths.
(c) A copy of the petition and written notice of the time, date, and place set for a
hearing shall be served upon any biological or adoptive parent of the minor child who is not a
petitioner, and on any other person the clerk may direct, including the minor child. Service
shall be made pursuant to Rule 4 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, unless the clerk directs
otherwise. When service is made by the sheriff, the sheriff shall make such service without
demanding his fees in advance. Parties may waive their right to notice of the hearing and the
clerk may proceed to consider the petition upon determining that all necessary parties are
before the court and agree to have the petition considered.
(d) If at or before the hearing any parent entitled to notice under subsection (c) of this
section presents to the clerk a written claim for custody of the minor child, the clerk shall stay
further proceedings under this Article pending the filing of a complaint for custody of the
minor child under Chapter 50 of the General Statutes and, upon the filing of such a complaint,
shall dismiss the petition. If no such complaint is filed within 30 days after the claim is
presented, the clerk shall conduct a hearing and enter an order as provided for in this section.
(e) The petitioner's appearance at the hearing shall not be required if the petitioner is
medically unable to appear, unless the clerk determines that the petitioner is able with
reasonable accommodation to appear and that the interests of justice require that the petitioner
be present at the hearing.
(f) At the hearing, the clerk shall receive evidence necessary to determine whether the
requirements of this Article for the appointment of a standby guardian have been satisfied. If
the clerk finds that the petitioner suffers from a progressive chronic illness or an irreversible
fatal illness, that the best interests of the minor child will be promoted by the appointment of a
standby guardian of the person or general guardian, and that the standby guardian and the
alternate standby guardian, if any, are fit to serve as guardian of the person or general guardian
of the minor child, the clerk shall enter an order appointing the standby guardian named in the
petition as standby guardian of the person or standby general guardian of the minor child and
shall issue letters of appointment to the standby guardian. The order may also appoint the
alternate standby guardian named in the petition as the alternate standby guardian of the person
or alternate general guardian of the minor child in the event that the person named as standby
guardian is unwilling or unable to serve as standby guardian and shall provide that, upon a
showing of that unwillingness or inability, letters of appointment will be issued to the alternate
standby guardian.
(g) Letters of appointment issued pursuant to this section shall state that the authority of
the standby guardian or alternate standby guardian of the person or the standby guardian or
alternate standby general guardian is effective upon the receipt by the guardian of a
determination of the death of the petitioner, upon receipt of a determination of the incapacity of
the petitioner, upon receipt of a determination of the debilitation of the petitioner and the
petitioner's consent, whichever occurs first, and shall also provide that the authority of the
standby guardian may earlier become effective upon written consent of the petitioner pursuant
to subsection (l) of this section.
(h) If at any time prior to the commencement of the authority of the standby guardian
the clerk, upon motion of the petitioner or any person entitled to notice under subsection (c) of
this section and after hearing, finds that the requirements of subsection (f) of this section are no
longer satisfied, the clerk shall rescind the order.