Opinion ID: 2582728
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testamentary Appointment of a Guardian

Text: Section 15-14-202 confers authority on a parent to appoint a guardian by will or other signed writing: a guardian may be appointed by will or other signed writing by a parent for any minor child the parent has or may have in the future. § 15-14-202(1), C.R.S. (2005); see also § 15-14-201. In connection with the appointment, the parent may specify limits on a guardian's powers and revoke or amend the appointment before confirmation by the court. § 15-14-202(1). A testamentary appointment is generally effective upon the death of the appointing parent: Subject to section 15-14-203, the appointment of a guardian becomes effective upon the death of the appointing parent or guardian, an adjudication that the parent or guardian is an incapacitated person, or a written determination by a physician who has examined the parent or guardian that the parent or guardian is no longer able to care for the child, whichever occurs first. § 15-14-202(3), C.R.S. (2005) (emphasis added). Although a parent may appoint a guardian, whose appointment will be effective upon his or her death, the court must be petitioned to confirm the appointment. § 15-14-202(4), C.R.S. (2005). The court may confirm an appointment before or after it is effective. Section 15-14-202(2), C.R.S. (2005), provides that the court may confirm an appointment upon petition of an appointing parent or guardian, who will likely be unable to care for the child within two years: Upon petition of an appointing parent or guardian ... the court, before the appointment becomes effective, may confirm the selection of a guardian by a parent or guardian and terminate the rights of others to object. (Emphasis added.) Section 15-14-202(6) provides that the trial court may confirm an appointment upon petition of the nominee after the appointment becomes effective: Unless the appointment was previously confirmed by the court ... a [nominee] shall petition the court for confirmation of the appointment. (Emphasis added.) In addition to petitioning the court for confirmation of a testamentary appointment, the appointee must file an acceptance of the appointment and [g]ive written notice of the acceptance to ... a person other than the parent or guardian having care and custody of the minor. § 15-14-202(4)(b), C.R.S. (2005). In this regard, the notice provisions contained in section 15-14-202 make clear that the legislature considered the person with the care or custody of the minor significant to the guardianship confirmation and appointment process. For example, whether a court confirms a testamentary appointment before or after the appointment is effective, a petitioner must give notice of a guardianship hearing to [a]ny person alleged to have had the primary care and custody of the minor during the sixty days before the filing of the petition. § 15-14-205(1)(b), C.R.S. (2005) (emphasis added); see §§ 15-14-202(2), 15-14-202(6). Specifically, section 15-14-202(2) permits a court to confirm an appointment before it is effective after notice is provided in section 15-14-205(1): [A]fter notice as provided in section 15-14-205(1), the court, before the appointment becomes effective, may confirm the selection of a guardian. (Emphasis added.) Likewise, section 15-14-202(6) requires that notice be given as provided in section 15-14-205(1) before a court confirms an effective testamentary appointment: [W]ithin thirty days after filing the notice and the appointing instrument, a guardian shall petition the court for confirmation of the appointment, giving notice in the manner provided in section 15-14-205(1). (Emphasis added.) In addition, section 15-14-202(5) requires that the notice provided, if the appointment has not been previously confirmed by the court, must state the right of persons with the care or custody of the minor to terminate the appointment by objecting under section 15-14-203(1): [T]he notice given ... must include a statement of the right of those [persons with the care or custody of the minor] to terminate the appointment by filing a written objection in the court as provided in section 15-14-203(1). (Emphasis added.) If a person with the care or custody of the minor objects, the authority of a guardian appointed under section 15-14-202 is terminated: The authority of a guardian appointed under [section 15-14-202] terminates upon ... the giving of written notice to the guardian of the filing of an objection pursuant to section 15-14-203(1) ..., § 15-14-202(9), C.R.S. (2005) (emphasis added). Thus, until the court has confirmed an appointee under section 15-14-202, the effectiveness of a parental appointment is subject to section 15-14-203(1).