Section 5-202 Parental or guardian appointment of guardian for minor - Massachusetts Statutes

[Text of section added by 2008, 521, Sec. 9 effective July 1, 2009. See 2008, 521, Sec. 44.]

Section 5-202. [Parental or Guardian Appointment of Guardian for Minor.]

(a) A parent, by will or other writing signed by the parent and attested by at least 2 witnesses, may appoint a guardian for any minor child the parent has or may have in the future, may revoke or amend the appointment, and may specify any desired limitations on the powers to be granted to the guardian.

(b) A guardian, by will or other writing signed by the guardian and attested by at least 2 witnesses, may appoint a guardian for any minor child for whom the guardian serves, may revoke or amend the appointment, and may specify any desired limitations on the powers to be granted to the guardian.

(c) Upon petition of an appointing parent or guardian, upon finding that the appointing parent or guardian will likely become unable to care for the minor within 2 years or less, and after notice as provided in section 5-206(b), the court, before the appointment becomes effective, may confirm the parent’s or guardian’s selection of a guardian and terminate the rights of others under section 5-203.

(d) Subject to section 5-203, the appointment of a guardian becomes effective on the first to occur of the appointing parent’s or guardian’s death, 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 minor unless the minor is in the care or custody of a person other than a parent pursuant to sections 24, 25, 26 and 39G of chapter 119, chapter 201; or section 3 of chapter 210.

(e) Within 30 days after the appointment becomes effective, a guardian shall:

(1) file a notice of acceptance of appointment and a copy of the will or other nominating instrument with the court of the county in which the will was or could be probated or, in the case of another nominating instrument, with the court of the county in which the minor resides; and

(2) unless the appointment was previously confirmed by the court, petition the court for confirmation of the appointment, giving notice in the manner provided in section 5-206(b).

(f) The parental appointment of a guardian shall not supersede the parental rights of either parent. If both parents are dead or have been adjudged incapacitated persons, an appointment by the last parent who dies or was adjudged incapacitated has priority.

(g) The powers of a guardian who timely complies with the requirements of subsection (e) relate back to give acts by the guardian which are of benefit to the minor and which occurred on or after the date the guardian was eligible to file an acceptance of office the same effect as those which occurred after the filing.

(h) The authority of a guardian appointed under this section terminates upon the first to occur of the appointment of a guardian by the court, the revocation of the appointment by the appointing parent or guardian, or the filing of an objection pursuant to section 5-203.