Puerto Rico hearing debates expanding municipal judges' power to order temporary guardians for older adults

The Commission on Older Adults and Social Welfare of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives held a public hearing Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, on Senate Project 650 (PDLS 650), a bill that would amend Law 100‑2019 (the charter of rights and public policy for older adults) and the Judiciary Law (Law 201‑2003) to clarify that judges in municipal courts of first instance may, when appropriate, order the appointment of a temporary guardian under Article 140‑B of the Civil Code of Puerto Rico for a term not to exceed 90 days.

Proponents said the change is intended to provide a faster, summary remedy to protect older adults who face urgent risks to their personal safety or property. Jorge A. Roger Reyes, member of the advisory council for ARP Puerto Rico, told the commission that Puerto Rico is experiencing demographic change and rising vulnerability among older adults. "Estamos experimentando un envejecimiento poblacional ... esto representa unos retos para la sociedad," he said, noting census-based estimates and statistics on financial‑exploitation complaints.

The bill would add a new subsection (inciso k) to Article 9 of Law 100‑2019 to authorize the appointment of a temporary guardian "cuando un juez municipal o superior del tribunal de primera instancia determine que la…