640 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 523

be appointed, the appointment may be made in the manner
hereinafter provided.

62. (LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF WARDS. ) No person other
than a bank or trust company shall be guardian of more than
five wards at one time, unless all the wards are members of one
family. Upon presentation of a petition by an attorney of the
Veterans Administration or other interested person, alleging
that a guardian is acting in a fiduciary capacity for more than
five wards as herein provided and requesting his discharge
for that reason, the court, upon proof substantiating the peti-
tion, shall require a final accounting forthwith from such
guardian and shall discharge him from guardianships in ex-
cess of five and forthwith appoint a successor.

63. (APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIANS. ) (A) A petition for
the appointment of a guardian may be filed in the Circuit
Court in Equity of the County wherein the ward resides, or in
the Circuit Court or Circuit Court No. 2 of Baltimore City
if the ward resides in Baltimore City, by any relative or friend
of the ward or by any person who is authorized by law to file
such a petition; Provided, however, that the Orphans' Court
of the several counties and of Baltimore City shall have con-
current jurisdiction with the Circuit Court or Courts as to the
appointment of a guardian of minor wards. If there be no
person so authorized or if the person so authorized refuses or
fails to file such a petition within thirty days after mailing of
notice by the Veterans Administration to the last known ad-
dress of such person, if any, indicating the necessity for the
same, a petition for such appointment may be filed by or on
behalf of any resident of this State.

(B) The petition for appointment shall set forth the name,
age, place of residence of the ward, the name and place of
residence of the nearest relative, if known, and the fact that
the ward is entitled to receive benefits payable by or through
the Veterans Administration and shall set forth the amount
of moneys then due and the amount of probable future pay-
ments.

(C) The petition shall also set forth the name and address
of the person or institution, if any, having actual custody of
the ward and the name, age, relationship, if any, occupation
and address of the proposed guardian and if the nominee is a
natural person, the number of wards for whom the nominee is
presently acting as guardian. Notwithstanding any law as
to priority of persons entitled to appointment, or the nomina-
tion in the petition, the court may appoint some other indi-
vidual or a bank or trust company as guardian, if the court
determines it is for the best interest of the ward.