Title 1, General Provisions

Unless a different intent appears in law, or in applicable court decisions, or in this Code, the common law rules of construction shall apply to the interpretation of this Code and to all other laws of Guam; provided, that, common law rules that statutes in derogation of the comm…

This Code establishes the law of the Guam respecting the subjects to which it relates, and its provisions and all proceedings under it are to be liberally construed with the view to effect its objects and to promote justice. SOURCE: Civil Code § 4; Code of Civil Procedure § 4; Go…

No part of this Code is retroactive, unless expressly so declared. SOURCE: Civil Code § 3; Civil Procedure Code § 3;, P.L. 13-186:2 (Sept. 2, 1976). 1980 NOTE: Compare Government Code § 4.

The provisions of this Code, as far as they are substantially the same as existing law, shall be construed as continuations thereof and not as new enactments. SOURCE: Government Code § 2. 1980 NOTE: Similar provisions in Civil Procedure Code § 4.

No action or proceedings commenced before this Code, or any individual Title thereof, takes effect, and no right accrued is affected by its provisions, but proceedings therein must conform to the requirements of this Code, or any particular Title thereof, as far as possible. SOUR…

(a) In General. This Act shall not apply to a corporation, association, educational institution or institution of learning, or society that is exempt from the religious discrimination provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) pursuant to § …

English and Chamorro are the official languages of Guam, provided, however, that the Chamorro language shall not be required for official recording of public acts and transactions. SOURCE: Government Code § 3000. 1980 COMMENT: Former Govt. Code § 3000, as originally enacted in 19…

Wherever there is found to exist a material difference between the English version and Chamorro version of any law or public document, the English version shall be held to be binding. 1980 NOTE: From Hawaii Revised Statutes § 1-13. 1980 COMMENT: While this question has not arisen…

When a limitation or period of time prescribed in any existing law for acquiring a right or barring a remedy, or for any other purpose, has begun to run before the applicable Title of this Code goes into effect, and the same or any limitation is prescribed by this Code, the time …

The time within which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday or holiday, and then it also is excluded. SOURCE: Civil Code § 10; Code of Civil Procedure § 12; Government Code § 205.

When the seal of a court, public officer, department, agency or section of the Government, or notary public, or of any person, is required by law to be affixed to any paper, the word “seal” refers to an impression of such seal on the paper alone, either as a physical impression o…

Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons are construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it is otherwise expressed in the act granting the authority. SOURCE: Civil Procedure Code § 15.

Whenever a power is granted to, or a duty is imposed upon, a public officer the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by the deputy of the officer, or by a person authorized, pursuant to law, by the officer unless this Code provides otherwise. SOURCE: Government Cod…

“Government” means the government of Guam and all of its branches. SOURCE: Government Code § 18. 1980 NOTE: This Section reflects the present status of autonomous agencies. If any change is made, it will be made in the portions of the law specifically dealing with these agencies.

Whenever any reference is made to this Code or to any other law of Guam, the reference applies to all amendments and additions now or hereafter made. SOURCE: Government Code § 9.

(a) Words used in this Code in the present tense include the future as well as the present; (b) words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; (c) the singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular; (d) the word “person” includes a corporati…

A law which authorizes the expenditure of funds, but which does not appropriate those funds authorizes the department, agency or person to whom the authorization is directed to take all necessary steps to accomplish the terms of the law except the obligation or expenditure of the…

Wherever any Guam law or rule provides for the giving of notice or service of legal process by registered mail, or for service of notice or legal process and proof of mailing or proof of delivery, the sending of such notice or service of such legal process may be made by means of…

Notice is: (a) Actual - which consists of express information of a fact; or (b) Constructive - which is imputed by law. SOURCE: Civil Code § 18. 2018 NOTE: Subsection designations were added pursuant to 1 GCA § 1606.

Every person who has actual notice of circumstances sufficient to put a prudent man upon inquiry as to a particular fact, has constructive notice of that fact itself in all cases in which, by prosecuting such inquiry, he might have learned such fact. SOURCE: Civil Code § 19.

Title, division, part, chapter, article and section headings and tables of contents do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this Code. SOURCE: Government Code § 6. 1980 NOTE: See also 9 GCA § 1.36 and 8 GCA § 5.13

If any of the provisions of this Code, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this Code which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this e…

All persons who, at the time any Title of this Code takes effect, hold office under any of the acts repealed by this Code, which offices are continued by this Code, continue to hold them according to their former tenure. COL 2026-05-29 SOURCE: Government Code § 3.

This Chapter shall apply to this Code, as the titles thereof become law, and to the Government Code, Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure and Probate Code, so long as the latter Codes remain outside of the Guam Code Annotated. The definitions found in this Chapter shall apply to t…

Words and phrases are construed according to the context and the approved usage of language; but technical words and phrases, and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law, or are defined in the succeeding section, are to be construed according to…