Opinion ID: 1995678
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Guardianship Order

Text: [¶ 22] The father argues that the court erred because it characterized its order as a permanent guardianship when only a temporary guardianship was actually established pursuant to 18-A M.R.S. §§ 5-201 to 5-212 (2009). The question of whether a guardianship is temporary or permanent is a question of law that we review de novo. See Guardianship of Zachary Z., 677 A.2d at 552. [¶ 23] A temporary guardianship is a guardianship established pursuant to 18-A M.R.S. § 5-207(c) (2009) that may not last longer than 6 months. [5] A permanent guardianship, in contrast, has no specific time period and terminates upon the death, resignation or removal of the guardian or upon the minor's death, adoption, marriage or attainment of majority. See 18-A M.R.S. § 5-210 (2009). Resignation or removal proceedings must be initiated by petition pursuant to 18-A M.R.S. § 5-212(a) (2009). The establishment of both temporary and permanent guardianships, however, is governed by 18-A M.R.S. §§ 5-204, 5-207. [¶ 24] In its order granting a guardianship, the court adopted the GAL's recommendations: a slow and steady transition for the child to the father's home; a resolution of the family matter giving the father primary residence; and the identification of a therapist for Jewel near the father's residence. The GAL's graduated visitation schedule, which the court accepted, would result in the father receiving complete custody of the child within five months. The court therefore clearly contemplated that the guardianship would remain in effect for a limited, defined period of less than six months; further, the court did not instruct the father to initiate a new petition seeking the termination of the guardianship once the conditions have been satisfied. Because the guardianship satisfies the criteria for a temporary guardianship pursuant to 18-A M.R.S. § 5-207(c); the court erred in characterizing it as a permanent guardianship. We modify the judgment accordingly. [¶ 25] Both parties represented at oral argument that the father's visitation had occurred as required by the court's judgment and that the father had been awarded residential care of Jewel by the District Court in the family matter. We expect that once the father has provided the Probate Court with the name of a licensed qualified therapist for Jewel, the court will terminate the guardianship and Jewel will be transferred to her father's custody without condition. Therefore, we affirm the judgment as modified. We are not persuaded by, and do not separately address, the father's remaining arguments. The entry is: Judgment is modified in accordance with this opinion and, as modified, is affirmed.