Opinion ID: 2155437
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: coguardianship

Text: [¶ 17] The second reported question asks: Pursuant to 18-A M.R.S.A. § 5-204(b) [(1998)], may the Probate Court appoint a co-guardian with a natural or legal parent? The statute itself expressly provides that the court may appoint coguardians and does not exclude natural or legal parents. Thus, the answer to the reported question is not in doubt. However, the petitioners ask a different question in their briefs. They ask us to determine whether the mother may retain all of her rights and responsibilities with regard to the child if she consents to her partner and herself being named coguardians. Because this question is not the question propounded by the court in the order of report and because the answer to the reported question is not in doubt, we discharge the report. [¶ 18] There is a further reason for discharging the report. Although the court indicated that it was inclined to grant the petition and appoint the petitioners as coguardians, it made no findings regarding the type of guardianship that it would grant. In its order, the court stated, Although this case presents a same sex couple, the question whether a nonparent and a parent may be co guardians [ sic ] arises much more often, and with no logical distinction, in biological families when parents want their children to live with relatives, and go to school where the relatives live, but do not want to give up parental rights. This statement itself suggests that there are several situations in which coguardianships may be appropriate but in which the scope of responsibilities and duties may vary. In the example given by the court of a coguardianship for the purpose of school attendance, a limited coguardianship to the relative is likely to be more appropriate than an unlimited coguardianship. [¶ 19] A Probate Court has the authority to grant limited guardianships and appoint a guardian with specified and limited duties. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 5-105 (1998). In determining whether to grant a guardianship, a court decides what is in the best interests of the child. 18-A M.R.S.A. § 5-204(b), (c) (1998). This must likewise be true when a court determines whether to grant a full or a limited guardianship or coguardianship. [¶ 20] The petition in this case requests that both petitioners be appointed the full panoply of rights and duties concerning I.H. Although the court indicated it was inclined to grant the petition, it made no factual findings that an unlimited coguardianship was in the best interests of the child. [6] The fact that it gave an example of a situation in which a limited guardianship would more often be in the child's best interests than an unlimited one, indicates that the court has not considered what, if any, limits it would place on the coguardianship. It is possible that the court could find that a limited coguardianship would be in I.H.'s best interests. A limited guardianship is a possible disposition that may resolve the petitioners' underlying question of whether the natural mother retains all of her parental rights. For this additional reason, we discharge the second reported question. The entry is: The report of question number one is accepted and answered herein. The report of question number two is discharged. The case is remanded to the Probate Court.