§44-15-3. Petition for appointment.

A petition for the appointment of a guardian may be filed in any court of competent jurisdiction by or on behalf of any person who under existing law is entitled to priority of appointment. If there be no person so entitled, or if the person so entitled, shall neglect or refuse to file such petition within thirty days after mailing of notice by the bureau or other agency of the government of the United States directly interested in the payment of the sums due the person or persons to the last known address of such person indicating the necessity for the same, a petition for such appointment may be filed in any court of competent jurisdiction by or on behalf of any responsible person residing in this state.

The petition for appointment shall set forth the name, age and place of residence of the ward, the name and place of residence of the nearest relative, if known, and the fact that such ward is entitled to receive moneys payable from the government of the United States, and shall set forth the amount of moneys then due and the amount of probable future payments.

The petition shall also set forth the name and address of the person or institution, if any, having actual custody of the ward.

In the case of a mentally incompetent ward the petition shall show that such ward has been rated incompetent on examination by an examining board employed or convened by the government of the United States in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the bureau or agency of the government from which payments are to be made.