Case Name: In the matter of William Nicoll, an Infant
Court: New York Court of Chancery
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1814-05-16
Citations: 1 Johns. Ch. 25
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the matter of William Nicoll, an Infant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Johnson's Chancery Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 25–26

Head Matter:
In the matter of William Nicoll, an Infant.
May 16th.
A guardian appointed by this court, during minority, continues until the infant arrives at 21, unless changed by order of the court, on good cause shown. An infant is not entitled, as of course, on arriving at the age of 14, to elect a new guardian.
IN 1799, Selah Strong and Richard Udall, were appointed, by this court, guardians of the person and estate of the infant during his minority. Udall was, some time since, discharged from his trust, to enable him to become a witness in certain suits in which the rights of the infant were concerned. In October last, the infant arrived at the age of 14 years.
Colden,
in behalf of the infant, moved for the appointment of Medad Rogers and Joshua Smith, as his guardians, in the place of Selah Strong, on the ground that they were the choice of the infant, who, he contended, had a right to change his guardian, at his election, on arriving at the age of 14 years. And to show that the authority of a guardian in socage ceased, on the infant’s arriving at the age of 14, when he might call his guardian to an account, and choose a new guardian, he cited Bac. Ab. Guardian. (E.) Co. Litt. 123. n. 67. Vaugh. 177.
Riggs, contra,
relied on the authority of the opinion of Dodderidge, J., in Palmer, 22., that an infant cannot revoke or change a guardian appointed by chancery. Such a guardianship does not cease until the infant arrives at full age, unless another guardian is appointed by the court: and it was the same as to a guardian in socage, who continued until the age of 21, Andrews' Rep. 313. 5 Johns. Rep. 66, 67.
Riggs,
also, made a cross motion for an attachment against Rogers and Smith, for interfering with the ward, taking him ^rom sc^00^ an<^ exciting him against his lawful guardian, just cause. He read the affidavit of Strong, and cited 2 P. Wms. 102. Eyre v. Shaftsbury, to show the power of the court in such cases.

Opinion:
The Chancellor.
A guardian appointed by this court, during minority, continues until the infant arrives to the age of 21 years, unless removed by the court, on good cause shown. The infant is not entitled to come in, as of course, at the age of 14, and set aside the guardian at his pleasure. This court has the care and protection of infants during their minority ; and they have not, nor ought to have, any such power in regard to guardians appointed by this court. The . motion to change the guardian must, therefore, be denied.
N. B. The cross motion for an attachmentwas withdrawn, on the suggestion that the parties charged with the contempt, acted under an impression that the infant had a right to elect a new guardian.