Virginia Law

"Applicant" means a person who has directly or through his authorized representative made written application for Medicaid at the Department of Medical Assistance Services' Central Processing Unit or at the local social services department serving the locality in which he is a resident or, if institutionalized, the locality in which he last resided outside an institution.

"Authorized representative" means a person who is authorized to conduct the personal or financial affairs for an individual who is age 18 or older.

"Caretaker relative" means an individual who is age 18 or older, who is not a parent, but who is related to a child by blood or marriage and who lives with and assumes responsibility for day-to-day care of the child in a place of residence maintained as his or their own home.

"Competent individual" means a person who has not been judged by a court to be legally incapacitated.

"Conservator" means a person appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to manage the estate and financial affairs of an incapacitated individual.

"Family substitute representative" means a spouse or designated relative who is willing and able to take responsibility for the individual's personal or financial affairs. The relatives who may be substitute representatives are, in this preferred order, the individual's adult child, parent, adult sibling, adult grandchild, adult niece or nephew, aunt or uncle.

"Guardian" means a person appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be responsible for the personal affairs of an incapacitated individual, including responsibility for making decisions regarding the person's support, care, health, safety, habilitation, education, therapeutic treatment, and, if not inconsistent with an order of commitment, residence.

"Incapacitated individual" means a person who, pursuant to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, has been found to be incapable of receiving and evaluating information effectively or responding to people, events, or environments to such an extent that the individual lacks the capacity to (i) meet the essential requirements of his health, care, safety, or therapeutic needs without the assistance or protection of a guardian or (ii) manage property or financial affairs or provide for his support or for the support of his legal dependents without the assistance or protection of a conservator.

"Legal emancipation" means the minor has been declared emancipated by a court of competent jurisdiction. A married minor is not emancipated unless a court has declared the married minor emancipated from his parents.