Chap. 261.—An ACT to provide for appointment of conservators, under certain
circumstances, for property of persons reported as missing, interned, captured,
et cetera; and to provide how any such conservatorship may be terminated.

[S

263)
Approved March 16, 1944

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
_. Section 1. Whenever a person (hereinafter referred to as an ab-
sentee) disappears, or absents himself from his usual place of residence,
or is reported or listed as missing, or missing in action, or interned in a
neutral country, or beleaguered, besieged, or captured by an enemy, and
has an interest in any property in this State, or is a legal resident of this
State, the court having probate jurisdiction in the city or county of the
absentee’s legal residence or if such absentee be a nonresident of this
State then the court having probate jurisdiction in the city or county
wherein the property is situated, upon petition alleging the facts and
showing the necessity for providing for care of the property of the ab-
sentee, made by any person who would have an interest in the property
of the absentee were he deceased, including a creditor of such person, or
on the court’s own motion, after notice to the heirs and next of kin of
such absentee, as provided by law, and upon good cause being shown,
may, appoint a conservator to take charge of the absentee’s estate.

Section 2. The court shall have full discretionary authority to ap-
point such conservator and shall require him to post an adequate bond,
and shall enter such orders and decrees as to it seems right and proper
directing the conservator in the management, operation and control of
said estate, and shall, in a proper case, subject to the rights of creditors,
require such conservator to make ample and suitable provisions out of
the estate in his hands for the support of the wife and infant children of
such absentee, as well as any other person dependent upon him for sup-
port and maintenance; and shall require the conservator to make reports
from time to time as the court may deem expedient.

Section 3. At any time upon petition of such absentee, or upon the
petition of a duly constituted attorney in fact of such absentee, if the court
is of the opinion that such power of attorney is valid, the court shall direct
the termination of the conservatorship and shall transfer all property
held for said absentee to him, or to such attorney in fact, as the case may
be. Should it subsequently appear to the court, during the pendency of
said conservatorship that said absentee has died, and an administrator
or executor has been appointed for his estate, the court shall order said
conservator to settle the accounts of his transactions before the court,
and shall direct the payment or transfer of said estate then remaining to
the said administrator or executor, as the case may be. _.

Section 4. The court is expressly authorized to allow to said con-
servator, such expenses and compensation as to it shall seem fair and
reasonable for services performed under his appointment.