[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31825-31826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15371]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 2834]


Advisory Committee on Private International Law Study Group on 
the Protection of Incapacitated Adults

    The Hague Conference on Private International Law, of which the 
United States is a member state, is developing a convention to deal 
with the protection of incapacitated adults. This convention is being 
patterned after a convention related to the protection of children 
adopted by the Hague Conference at a diplomatic session in October, 
1996 (the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, 
Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and 
Measures for the Protection of Children).
    At a meeting held on September 3-12, 1997, a Special Commission of 
the Hague Conference adopted for consideration at a diplomatic session 
a draft Convention on Jurisdiction, applicable Law, Recognition, 
Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of the Protection of Adults. The 
diplomatic session to consider this draft will take place sometime in 
1999. The United States and other countries may submit comments on the 
draft convention, which the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference 
will then circulate to all of the participating States in advance of 
the 1999 session.
    The draft convention seeks to establish rules for jurisdiction and 
the law to be applied to proceedings to take measures for the 
protection of adults who are in some way unable to make appropriate 
decisions regarding themselves or their property. Such measures include 
the appointment of guardians with limited or general powers and the 
execution by an adult of powers of attorney or similar documents to 
become effective in the event of incapacity. The draft convention would 
set standards for recognition and enforcement by the States Party of 
the measures of protection to be covered. Finally, the draft convention 
would establish a system of cooperation between authorities to ensure 
that information is exchanged and appropriate action is taken. A copy 
of the draft convention and of the United States report of the meeting 
of the special commission are available to the public on request.
    In order to ensure that the comments of the United States on the 
draft convention take into account the views of experts and interested 
persons and institutions, the Department is interested in receiving 
comments on the draft convention. In addition, there may from time to 
time be meetings, open to the public, for the purpose of an exchange of 
views and discussion of comments received.
    Any person or organization who wishes to participate in the work of 
this study group and to receive documents and notices regarding 
meetings should contact Rosalia Gonzales in the Office of the Assistant 
Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/PIL) to be placed on the 
mailing list. The address is: 2430 E St., NW, Suite #203, South Bldg.,

[[Page 31826]]

Washington, DC 20037-2800; FAX--202-776-8482; PHONE-202-776-8420; 
EMAIL[email protected]. Questions and comments should be addressed to 
Gloria F. DeHart, Attorney Adviser International, 50 Fremont St., Suite 
300, San Francisco, CA 94105; FAX--415-356-6190; Phone--415-356-6187.
Jeffrey D. Kovar,
Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law.
[FR Doc. 98-15371 Filed 6-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-08-M