Opinion ID: 2582728
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Conditions for the Judicial Appointment of a Guardian

Text: Section 15-14-204 conditions the judicial appointment of a guardian on a finding that the appointment will be in the minor's best interest. Under section 15-14-204(2), the best interest of the child is the overriding requirement governing judicial appointments: (2) The court may appoint a guardian for a minor if the courts finds the appointment is in the minor's best interest, and: (a) The parents consent; (b) All parental rights have been terminated; (c) The parents are unwilling or unable to exercise their parental rights; or (d) Guardianship of a child has previously been granted to a third party ... (Emphasis added.) The best interest of the child standard also governs temporary guardianship appointments made under the judicial appointment statute. Section 15-14-204(4) provides that the court may appoint a temporary guardian for a minor upon a showing that an immediate need exists and that the appointment would be in the best interest of the minor  (emphasis added). Consistent with the conditions for appointment set forth in section 15-14-204, the procedures for the judicial appointment of a guardian also impose a best interest of the child standard. Section 15-14-205(2) provides: The court, upon hearing, shall make the appointment if it finds that ... the best interest of the minor will be served by the appointment (emphasis added). The legislature thus made clear that the paramount consideration in appointing a guardian is the best interest of the minor. In fact, no mention of a standard other than the best interest of the child is made in section 15-14-204. We see no reason to deviate from the best interest standard when the judicial appointment is made subsequent to an objection to a testamentary appointment. We therefore decline to employ the harm standard advanced by Nace and adopted by the trial court. Indeed, applying a harm standard would require us to read language into the statute. The judicial appointment statute makes no mention of a harm standard and does not direct that a trial court, in making its appointment, should apply any standard other than the best interests of the child, the standard that applies to all judicial appointments. Nor does the judicial appointment statute identify any exceptions for a judicial appointment made subsequent to an objection by a person with the care or custody of the minor. Had the legislature intended a court to appoint a guardian pursuant to a harm standard, it could have so stated. See In re E.L.M.C., 100 P.3d 546, 555 (Colo.App.2004). Instead, the statute repeatedly provides a consistent standard by which to make a judicial appointment: the best interest of the child. Hence, when the trial court has jurisdiction over appointment of a guardian, its responsibility is to provide for the best interest and welfare of the minor. Although we recognize the strong public policy in favor of encouraging parents to make testamentary selections in the first instance, we conclude the legislature did not intend to preclude the court from considering the best interests of the child who has been in the care or custody of persons other than the testamentary guardian. Hence, the testamentary nomination is not binding where the trial court determines in its sound discretion that a party with the care or custody of the minor is better suited to act as guardian. Parental intent as to who should care for their minor children may nonetheless be a relevant factor to be considered in appointing a guardian under the best interest standard. A court may consider all relevant facts and circumstances to determine the best interest of the child. See Rayer v. Rayer, 32 Colo. App. 400, 403, 512 P.2d 637, 639 (1973); Bd. of Educ. of Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Booth, 984 P.2d 639, 651 (Colo.1999) (citing § 14-10-124, 5 C.R.S. (1998)). Hence, the best interest of the child standard does not preclude a court from considering the desires of the pertinent parties, including the wishes of the minor's parent as expressed through a testamentary appointment. Thus, a court may weigh such wishes, keeping in mind the fluid and changing nature of interpersonal relationships and the frequency with which the will was reviewed after its election. However, the paramount consideration is the best interest of the child and a testamentary appointment must yield to this overriding concern when the court resolves a guardianship dispute subsequent to an objection by a person with the care or custody of the minor under section 15-14-203(1). Accordingly, to appoint a guardian for a minor when a person with the care or custody of the child objects to the testamentary appointment, the court shall appoint a guardian under section 15-14-204 pursuant to the best interest of the child standard.