What North Dakota’s new state agency does for guardianship, families and vulnerable adults

By Atticus Pead

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - North Dakota’s new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship (OGC) opened April 1 and is already busy, with more than 80 referrals in its first months of operation.

Director Rachel Sinness said her six-person team has received referrals from courts, state agencies, family members and even people under guardianship themselves.

The office was created by lawmakers under Senate Bill 2029 in the 2025 session.

Sinness said it’s rare for the work to exist as its own agency — in most other states, guardianship oversight sits inside Health and Human Services or the court system. North Dakota’s office operates independently.

Unlike the prior court monitoring program under the judiciary, which only took court referrals, the new office also takes complaints from others.

“We also take those from the public and other agencies,” Sinness said. “If a family member is concerned a guardian is exploiting a loved one, that individual can also call our office and ask that we take up an investigation.”

Sinness described the office as “a one-stop shop for guardianship and conservatorship.” Guardians and conservators are required to file an annual report with the court. When judges spot discrepancies, they can refer the case to OGC for review.

Her team includes a legal director, two investigators called guardianship case monitors, a fiscal officer who handles state funding sources and eligibility, and an administrative assistant. 

The office also works with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) under the Attorney General’s office on cases needing further examination.

Sinness said many of the 80-plus referrals have been handled in-house. Several have resulted in recommendations to the district court where the guardianship originated, and some have been referred to BCI.

Most cases so far involve small paperwork issues, like a missing line item on an annual report, and can be resolved fairly quickly, Sinness said.

Sinness came to the role in November 2025, while the rest of the staff was hired in late March and early April. Before leading OGC, she worked as an assistant attorney general in the North Dakota Attorney General’s office focused on higher education. 

She said the office provides oversight to ensure guardians and conservators follow strict standards so protected individuals maintain autonomy and basic rights, and decisions are made as they would make them themselves.

“We’re available by telephone for any questions pertaining to guardianship and conservatorship whatsoever,” she said.

Find more information and resources on their website.

For now, the office is working on the 14th floor of the Capitol, but plans to move to the Liberty Memorial Building in the future. 

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What North Dakota’s new state agency does for guardianship, families and vulnerable adults