GA Code § 53-11-2 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 53 - Wills, Trusts, and Administration of Estates|Chapter 11 - Proceedings in Probate Court|§ 53-11-2. "Guardian" Defined; Persons Represented; Appointment; Successors; Guardian Named in Petitions

  As used in this Code section, the term "guardian" means the guardian ad litem appointed by the probate court who may represent a single party or more than one party or a class of parties with common or nonadverse interests, including the estates of one or more deceased heirs that have no personal representative; provided, however, that the court may determine for the purpose of the particular proceeding that the natural guardian, if any, or the testamentary guardian, if any, or the duly constituted conservator of the property, if any, or the duly constituted guardian of the person, if any, has no conflict of interest and thus may represent for the purpose of the proceeding a party who is not sui juris, who is unborn, or who is unknown.   When a party to a proceeding in the probate court is not sui juris, is unborn, or is unknown, such party shall be represented in the proceeding by a guardian. When a party to a proceeding in the probate court is a deceased heir whose estate has no personal representative, such deceased heir's estate may be represented in the proceeding by a guardian. Service upon or notice to a guardian shall constitute service upon or notice to the party represented, and except as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-17, no additional service upon or notice to such party shall be required. Waivers, acknowledgments, consents, answers, objections, or other documents executed by the guardian shall, except as otherwise provided in Code Section 15-9-17, be binding upon the party represented.   Whenever a guardian ad litem is appointed, the court may limit the appointment or may at any time for cause appoint a successor. Unless the appointment is limited by the court, the guardian ad litem first appointed with respect to any proceeding involving the administration of the estate shall continue to serve with respect to such proceeding on behalf of the party represented until a successor is appointed, the party represented becomes sui juris, or the court terminates the appointment.     In every petition filed in the probate court, the petitioner shall specify the name of each party who requires a guardian and the name and address of any person who is acting as guardian of the party. A copy of the letters appointing the guardian shall be attached to the petition or the petition shall allege such facts as shall show the authority of such guardian to act.   The authority of a guardian to act may be established under paragraph (1) of this subsection by showing:   Compliance by a foreign guardian of a minor with the filing requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 29-2-74 or of Code Section 29-2-76;   Compliance by a foreign conservator of the property of a minor with the filing requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 29-3-115 or of Code Section 29-3-117;   Compliance by a foreign guardian of an adult with the filing requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 29-4-95 or of Code Section 29-4-97;   Compliance by a foreign conservator of the property of an adult with the filing requirements of subsection (b) of Code Section 29-5-135 or of Code Section 29-5-137; or   The registration and recording of a guardianship order or conservatorship order from another state under Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 29.     Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the probate court may take judicial notice of the issuance of the letters appointing such conservator or guardian, and of the authority of such conservator or guardian to act, in the manner provided by Chapter 2 of Title 24.       (Code 1981, §53-11-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 504, § 10; Ga. L. 1997, p. 1352, § 27; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1586, § 44; Ga. L. 2019, p. 693, § 41/HB 70; Ga. L. 2020, p. 377, § 1-63/HB 865.)    The 2019 amendment,  effective January 1, 2020, substituted ‘‘conservator'' for ‘‘guardian'' in the middle of the proviso of subsection (a); in subsection (b), substituted ‘‘such'' for ‘‘that'' in the first sentence, in the second sentence, added a comma following ‘‘represented'' and inserted ‘‘except as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 15-9-17,'' in the middle, and inserted ‘‘, except as otherwise provided in Code Section 15-9-17,'' in the third sentence; and substituted the present provisions of subsection (d) for the former provisions, which read: ‘‘In every petition filed in the probate court, the petitioner shall specify the name of each party who requires a guardian and the name and address of any person who is acting as guardian of the party. A copy of the letters appointing the guardian shall be attached to the petition or the petition shall allege such facts as shall show the authority of such guardian to act; provided, however, that the probate court may take judicial notice of the issuance of such letters or of such authority.''    The 2020 amendment,  effective January 1, 2021, inserted ", including the estates of one or more deceased heirs that have no personal representative" in subsection (a); added the second sentence in subsection (b); and redesignated subparagraphs (d)(2)(i) through (d)(2)(v) as (d)(2)(A) through (d)(2)(E).   Cross references.   - Appointment of guardians ad litem generally, § 9-11-17(c).   Guardians ad litem and appraisers for year's support in probate court proceedings, Uniform Rules for the Probate Courts, Rule 23.   Law reviews.   - For article commenting on the 1997 amendment of this Code section, see 14 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 313 (1997).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 20 Am. Jur. 2d, Courts, § 98. 39 Am. Jur. 2d, Guardian and Ward, § 13. 80 Am. Jur. 2d, Wills, § 986.   C.J.S.   - 43 C.J.S., Infants, § 321 et seq. 95 C.J.S., Wills, §§ 536, 537.   ALR.   - Factors considered in making election for incompetent to take under or against will, 3 A.L.R.3d 6.   Time within which election must be made for incompetent to take under or against will, 3 A.L.R.3d 119.