28-65-107. Jurisdiction of courts.

28-65-107. Jurisdiction of courts. (a) The jurisdiction of the circuit court over all matters of guardianship, other than guardianships ad litem in other courts, shall be exclusive, subject to the right of appeal. (b) The provisions of this chapter shall not affect the jurisdiction of any court authorized to remove disabilities of minority. (c)(1) If a juvenile is the subject matter of an open case filed under the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, § 9-27-301 et seq., the guardianship petition shall be filed in that case if the juvenile resides in Arkansas. (2) If the juvenile resides out of state through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, § 9-29-201 et seq., the guardianship petition may be filed in Arkansas or it may be filed in the state in which the juvenile resides, subject to approval by the receiving state. (3) The Department of Human Services may intervene as a matter of right in a guardianship action at any time before the entry of a permanent guardianship order if: (A) A guardianship action is initiated for a child or adult in the custody of the department, including a seventy-two-hour hold; and (B) The custody of the child or adult is granted to a party seeking guardianship. (d) The appropriate jurisdiction for an adult guardianship action, excluding proceedings under the Adult Maltreatment Custody Act, § 9-20-101 et seq., under this chapter that involve a party residing outside the state shall be determined under the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, § 28-74-101 et seq. (e) The appropriate jurisdiction for an adult guardianship action under the Adult Maltreatment Custody Act, § 9-20-101 et seq., that involves a maltreated adult residing outside the state shall be determined under the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act, § 28-74-101 et seq.