Guardianship of a Mentally Ill Person

This is an appeal from an order of the Probate Court directing a proposed ward to pay the fee of a guardian ad litem who was appointed by the court to investigate and report on matters pertaining to the adjudication of the proposed ward’s mental competency. Before the order was entered, the proposed ward had been adjudged to be competent by the Probate Court. After reviewing the record, we reverse the order. We summarize the facts and procedural background of the case.

On July 16, 1984, the proposed ward’s mother and estranged husband petitioned for the appointment of a guardian for the…