Title 26 — Title 26

A person may become a guardian of a minor by parental appointment or upon appointment by the court. The guardianship status continues until terminated, without regard to the location from time to time of the guardian or minor ward. History: (Acts 1987, No. 87-590, p. 975, §2-101.…

(a) The parent of an unmarried minor may appoint a guardian for the minor by will, or other writing signed by the parent and attested by at least two witnesses or acknowledged. (b) Subject to the right of the minor under Section 26-2A-72, if both parents are dead or incapacitated…

A minor 14 or more years of age who is the subject of a parental appointment may prevent the appointment or cause it to terminate by filing in the court in which the nominating instrument is filed a written objection to the appointment before it is accepted or within 30 days afte…

(a) The court may appoint a guardian for an unmarried minor if all parental rights have been terminated or suspended by circumstances or prior order of a court having jurisdiction; unless a custodian has been appointed under Section 26-18-8, or otherwise by the juvenile court whe…

The venue for guardianship proceedings for a minor pursuant to Section 26-2A-73 is in the court at the place where the minor resides or is present at the time the proceedings are commenced. History: (Acts 1987, No. 87-590, p. 975, §2-105.)

(a) A minor or any person interested in the welfare of the minor may petition for appointment of a guardian. (b) After the filing of a petition, the court shall set a date for hearing, and the petitioner shall give notice of the time and place of hearing the petition in the manne…

Minor’s Nominee. The court may appoint as guardian any person whose appointment would be in the best interest of the minor. The court shall appoint a person nominated by the minor, if the minor is 14 or more years of age, unless the court finds the appointment contrary to the bes…

By accepting a parental or court appointment as guardian, a guardian submits personally to the jurisdiction of the court in any proceeding relating to the guardianship that may be instituted by any interested person. The petitioner shall cause notice of any proceeding to be deliv…

(a) A guardian of a minor ward has the powers and responsibilities of a parent regarding the ward’s health, support, education, or maintenance, but a guardian is not personally liable for the ward’s expenses and is not liable to third persons by reason of the relationship for act…

A guardian’s authority and responsibility terminate upon the death, resignation, or removal of the guardian or upon the minor’s death, adoption, marriage, or attainment of majority, but termination does not affect the guardian’s liability for prior acts or the obligation to accou…

Guardianships created prior to January 1, 1988, and continuing in effect on January 1, 1988, are not terminated, even though the statute under which the appointment was made may be repealed by this chapter. Those guardianships continue in effect as they existed prior to this chap…

(a) The court at the place where the ward resides has concurrent jurisdiction with the court that appointed the guardian or in which acceptance of a parental appointment was filed over resignation, removal, accounting, and other proceedings relating to the guardianship. (b) If th…

(a) Any person interested in the welfare of a ward or the ward, if 14 or more years of age, may petition for removal of a guardian on the ground that removal would be in the best interest of the ward or for any other order that is in the best interest of the ward. A guardian may …

Become Conservators on January 1, 1997. (a) A curator appointed pursuant to Chapter 7A of this title prior to August 7, 1995, and continuing in effect on August 7, 1995, is not terminated, although the statute under which the appointment was made is repealed by Act 95-751. The cu…

This chapter may be cited as the Alabama Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act. History: (Act 2010-500, p. 782, §1.)

In this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) ADULT. An individual who has attained 19 years of age or who by statute has otherwise been deemed to be an adult under the laws of the State of Alabama or the laws of another state. (2) CONSERVATOR. A per…

(a) A court of this state, by written order, may treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying this article and Articles 2, 3, and 5. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), a guardianship or conservatorship determinati…

(a) A court of this state may communicate with a court in another state concerning a proceeding arising under this chapter. The court may allow the parties to participate in the communication. (b) If the parties are not allowed to participate in the communication, the court shall…

(a) In a guardianship or protective proceeding in this state, a court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to do any of the following: (1) Hold an evidentiary hearing. (2) Order a person in that state to produce evidence or give testimony pursuant to p…

(a) In a guardianship or protective proceeding, in addition to other procedures that may be available, testimony of a witness who is located in another state may be offered by deposition or other means allowable in this state for testimony taken in another state. The court on its…

(a) In this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) EMERGENCY. A circumstance that likely will result in substantial harm to a respondent’s health, safety, or welfare, and for which the appointment of a guardian is necessary because no other person has…

This article provides the exclusive jurisdictional basis for a court of this state to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order for an adult. History: (Act 2010-500, p. 782, §1.)

(a) A court of this state has jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order for a respondent if: (1) this state is the respondent’s home state; (2) on the date the petition is filed, this state is a significant-connection state and: (A) the respondent does not ha…

(a) A court of this state lacking jurisdiction under Section 26-2B-203 has special jurisdiction to do any of the following: (1) appoint a guardian in an emergency for a term not exceeding 90 days for a respondent who is physically present in this state; (2) issue a protective ord…

Except as otherwise provided in Section 26-2B-204, a court that has appointed a guardian or issued a protective order consistent with this chapter has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction over the proceeding until it is terminated by the court or the appointment or order expires…

(a) A court of this state having jurisdiction under Section 26-2B-203 to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order may decline to exercise its jurisdiction if it determines at any time that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. (b) If a court of this state de…

(a)If at any time a court of this state determines that it acquired jurisdiction to appoint a guardian or issue a protective order because of unjustifiable conduct, the court may: (1) decline to exercise jurisdiction; (2) exercise jurisdiction for the limited purpose of fashionin…

If a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a protective order is brought in this state and this state was not the respondent’s home state on the date the petition was filed, in addition to complying with the notice requirements of this state, notice of the pet…

Except for a petition for the appointment of a guardian in an emergency or issuance of a protective order limited to property located in this state under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of Section 26-2B-204, if a petition for the appointment of a guardian or issuance of a …

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, each party, in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit, shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath as to the respondent’s present address or whereabouts and the places and addresses where the respondent…

(a) A guardian or conservator appointed in this state may petition the court to transfer the guardianship or conservatorship to another state. (b) Notice of a petition under subsection (a) must be given to the persons that would be entitled to notice of a petition in this state f…

State. (a) To confirm transfer of a guardianship or conservatorship transferred to this state under provisions similar to Section 26-2B-301, the guardian or conservator must petition the court in this state to accept the guardianship or conservatorship. The petition must include …

If a guardian has been appointed in another state and a petition for the appointment of a guardian is not pending in this state, the guardian appointed in the other state, after giving notice to the appointing court of an intent to register, may record the guardianship order in t…

If a conservator has been appointed in another state and a petition for a protective order is not pending in this state, the conservator appointed in the other state, after giving notice to the appointing court of an intent to record, may record the protective order in this state…

(a) Upon the recording of a guardianship or protective order from another state, the guardian or conservator may exercise in this state all powers provided in Section 26-2A-160. (b) A court of this state may grant any relief available under this chapter and other law of this stat…

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. History: (Act 2010-500, p. 782, §1.)

This chapter modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001, et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery o…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as repealing any portion of Chapter 2A of this title, the Alabama Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act, unless specifically addressed. History: (Act 2010-500, p. 782, §1.)

Before the issue of letters of conservatorship, other than letters to the general conservator or to the sheriff, the judge of probate must require the conservator appointed to enter into bond with sufficient sureties, payable to the judge of probate, in a penalty prescribed by hi…

Bonds. The bond of the general conservator of the county or of the conservator of a minor or of an incapacitated person is valid and operative as a statutory bond and is of the same obligation, force, and effect as a statutory bond, though it may not be approved or in the penalty…

A surety on the bond of the general conservator of the county or on the bond of the conservator of a minor or an incapacitated person cannot avoid liability thereon on the ground that he or she signed or delivered it on condition that it should not be delivered to the judge of pr…

All bonds given by conservators must be approved by the judge of probate issuing the letters of conservatorship and must be filed and recorded in his or her office. History: (Code 1852, §2020; Code 1867, §2419; Code 1876, §2763; Code 1886, §2386; Code 1896, §2284; Code 1907, §437…

The judge of probate and the sureties on his or her official bond are liable to any person injured for any wanton, fraudulent, or intentional misconduct of the judge in not taking from a conservator a good and sufficient bond or for taking thereon insufficient surety or for wanto…

Upon the filing of any partial settlement by the conservator of a minor or an incapacitated person in the court in which such estate is pending, such conservator may pray for a reduction in the amount of his or her bond as such conservator. Thereupon, the court must set a day for…

Giving Bond and Effect Thereof. A testator may by his or her last will relieve the conservator of his or her appointment for a minor child or children from giving bond and sureties for the faithful performance of his or her duties as conservator, but the authority of such conserv…

of Minor; Effect of Failure to Give Bond. Before the issue of letters of conservatorship to a testamentary conservator relieved from giving bond and sureties or at any time thereafter, if the judge of probate deems it necessary for the safety of such minor child or children, he o…

The general conservator of the county must give bond, with at least two good and sufficient sureties, in a penalty to be prescribed by the judge of probate and payable to him or her, with condition to faithfully perform all the duties which are or may be required of him or her by…

Failure to Give Same. The judge of probate shall have authority and it shall be his or her duty, whenever he or she deems it necessary for the safety of the ward, to require the conservator to give a new or additional bond. If, on notice of such requisition, such conservator fail…

from Liability of Surety - Required; Effect of Failure to Give Bond. Upon the application in writing of any surety or sureties upon the bond of a conservator requesting to be discharged from future liability as such surety or sureties or upon the application in writing of the per…

from Liability of Surety - Effect of Giving of New Bond Upon Liability of Surety. When a new bond is given under Section 26-3-8, the surety on whose application or the estate of the deceased surety on whose behalf the application was made, as the case may be, is discharged as to …