Title 19 — Personal Relations

Minors are all persons under eighteen (18) years of age. SOURCE: CC § 25, amended by P.L. 11-144 (June 23, 1972), repealed and reenacted by P.L. 14-092:5 (Dec. 31, 1977).

The periods specified in the preceding section must be calculated from the first minute of the day on which persons are born to the same minute of the corresponding day completing the period of minority. SOURCE: CC § 26.

All other persons are adults. SOURCE: CC § 27.

A child conceived, but not yet born, is to be deemed an existing person, so far as may be necessary for its interests in the event of its subsequent birth. SOURCE: CC § 29.

The custody of minors and persons of unsound mind is regulated by this Title and the provisions of law contained in the Probate Code (15 GCA). COL 2025-12-23 SOURCE: CC § 32. 2025 NOTE: The prior Compiler replaced the reference to “Part III of this Division” with “this Title” and…

A minor cannot give a delegation of power, nor make a contract relating to real property, or any interest therein, or relating to any personal property, not in his immediate possession or control. SOURCE: CC § 33 amended by P.L. 11-144 (June 23, 1972).

A minor may make any other contract than as above specified, in the same manner as an adult, subject only to his power of disaffirmance under the provisions of this Chapter, and subject to the provisions of the Chapters on marriage, and on master and servant. SOURCE: CC § 34.

In all cases other than those specified in §§ 1109, 1110 and 1111 the contract of a minor if made while he is under the age of 18 may be disaffirmed by the minor himself, either before his majority or within a reasonable time afterwards, or, in the case of his death within that p…

A minor cannot disaffirm an otherwise valid contract to pay the reasonable value of things necessary for his support, or that of his family, entered into by him when not under the care of a parent or guardian able to provide for him or them; provided that such things have been ac…

A minor cannot disaffirm an obligation, otherwise valid, entered into by him under the express authority or direction of a law. SOURCE: CC § 37.

(a) Definitions. For the purpose of this Chapter, the following terms shall be defined as follows: (1) “Minor” shall be any person under the age of eighteen (18). (2) “Parent” means the natural and the legal parent and any guardian, custodian or step-parent acting in loco parenti…

A person entirely without understanding has no power to make a contract of any kind, but he is liable for the reasonable value of things furnished to him necessary for his support or the support of his family. SOURCE: CC § 38.

A conveyance or other contract of a person of unsound mind, but not entirely without understanding, made before his incapacity has been judicially determined, is subject to rescission, as provided in the Chapter on rescission in the Civil Code. SOURCE: CC § 39. COL 2025-12-23

After his incapacity has been judicially determined, a person of unsound mind can make no conveyance or other contract, nor delegate any power or waive any right, until his restoration to capacity. But a certificate from the medical superintendent or resident physician of the ins…

A minor or person of unsound mind, of whatever degree, is civilly liable for a wrong done by him, but is not liable in exemplary damages unless at the time of the act he was capable of knowing that it was wrongful. SOURCE: CC § 41.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (b), a minor may enforce his rights by civil action or other legal proceeding, in the same manner as an adult, except that a guardian must bring the same, provided that the plaintiff must first exhaust the administrative process mand…

Every person has, subject to the qualifications and restrictions provided by law, the right of protection from bodily restraint or harm, from personal insult, from defamation, and from injury to his personal relations. SOURCE: CC '43.

Defamation is effected by: (a) Libel; (b) Slander. SOURCE: CC '44.

Libel is a false and unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, effigy, or other fixed representation to the eye, which exposes any COL120106 person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or which causes him to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to in…

Slander is a false and unprivileged publication other than libel, which: (a) Charges any person with crime, or with having been informed against, convicted, or punished for crime; (b) Imputes in him the present existence of an infectious, contagious, or loathsome disease; (c) Ten…

A privileged publication is one made: (a) In the proper discharge of an official duty. (b) In any (1) legislative or (2) judicial proceedings, or (3) in any other official proceeding authorized by law: Provided, that an allegation or averment contained in any pleading or affidavi…

In the cases provided for in Subdivisions (c), (d), and (e) of the preceding Section, malice is not inferred from the communication or publi- cation. SOURCE: CC '48.

The rights of personal relations forbid: (a) The abduction of a husband from his wife, or of a parent from his child. (b) The abduction or enticement of a wife from her husband, or a child from a parent, or from a guardian entitled to its custody. (c) The seduction of a wife, dau…

Any necessary force may be used to protect from wrongful injury the person or property of oneself, or of a wife, husband, child, parent, or other relative, or member of one's family, or of a ward, servant, master, or guest. COL120106 SOURCE: CC '50.

Any person within the jurisdiction of this territory who conducts himself in a proper and lawful manner is entitled to the full and equal ac- commodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of inns, restaurants, hotels, eating houses, places where alcoholic beverages, ice cre…

Whoever denies to any person except for reasons applicable alike to every race or religion, the full accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges enumerated in § 2109 of this Title, or who aids or incites such denial, or whoever makes any discrimination, distinction, or…

It is unlawful for any corporation, person or association, or the proprietor, lessee, or the agents of either, of any opera house, theater, melodeon, museum, circus, caravan, racecourse, fair or other place of public amusement or entertainment, to refuse admittance to any person …

Any person who is refused admission to any place of amusement contrary to the provisions of the last preceding Section, is entitled to recover from the proprietor, lessee, or their agents, or from any such person, corporation, or association, or the directors thereof, his actual …

Any person who violates '§ 2110 or 2111 of this Chapter shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor and any type of business license held by him authorizing the operation of the premises with respect to which the violation of '§ 2110 or 2111 has occurred, shall be subject to suspensio…

Blind persons, visually handicapped persons, and other physically disabled persons shall have the same right as the able-bodied to the full and free use of the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings, public facilities, and other public places. SOURCE: CC '54.2 e…

(a) Blind persons, visually handicapped persons, and other physically disabled persons shall be entitled to full and equal access, as other members of the general public, to accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all common carriers, airplanes, motor vehicles, …

Every totally or partially blind person shall have the right to be accompanied by a guide dog, especially trained for the purpose, in any of the places specified in § 2115 without being required to pay extra charge for the guide dog; provided he shall be liable for any damage don…

Any person or persons, firm or corporation who denies or interferes with admittance to or enjoyment of the public facilities as specified in '§ 2114 and 2115 or otherwise interferes with the rights of a totally or partially blind person or other disabled person under '§ 2114, 211…

COL120106 A totally or partially blind pedestrian shall have all of the rights and privileges conferred by law upon other person in any of the places, accommodations or conveyances specified in '§ 2114 and 2115 notwithstanding the fact that such person is not carrying a predomina…

As used in this chapter, blind, totally blind, visually handicapped, and partially blind mean having central visual acuity not to exceed 20/200 in the better eye, with corrected lenses, as measured by the Snellen test, or visual acuity greater than 20/200, but with a limitation i…

Marriage is a personal relation arising out of a civil contract, to which the consent of parties capable of making that contract is necessary. Consent alone will not constitute marriage; it must be followed by a solemnization authorized by this Title. SOURCE: CC § 55.

Any unmarried person of the age of eighteen (18) years or older, and not otherwise disqualified, is capable of consenting to and consummating COL1312018 marriage; provided, that any person under the age of eighteen (18) years and over the age of sixteen (16) years, with the conse…

Consent to marriage and solemnization thereof may be proved under the same general rules of evidence as facts are proved in other cases. SOURCE: CC § 57.

Marriages between parents and children, ancestors and descendants of every degree, and between brothers and sisters of the half as well as the whole blood, and between uncles and nieces or aunts and nephews, are incestuous, and void from the beginning whether the relationship is …

A subsequent marriage contracted by any person during the life of a former spouse of such person, with any person other than such former spouse is illegal and void from the beginning, unless: (a) the former marriage has been annulled or dissolved. In no case can a marriage of eit…

Neither party to a contract to marry is bound by a promise made in ignorance of the other's want of personal chastity, and either is released therefrom by unchaste conduct on the part of the other unless both parties participate therein. SOURCE: CC § 62.

All marriages contracted outside of the territory of Guam, which would be valid by the laws of the country in which the same were contracted, are valid in the territory of Guam. SOURCE: CC: § 63.

(a) Upon entering into a contract of marriage, a spouse may elect to retain his or her surname before marriage as his or her surname after marriage, or a spouse may elect to adopt any of the following surnames: (1) the current surname of the other spouse; (2) the surname of eithe…

[Repealed.] SOURCE: CC § 64.1, enacted by P.L. 12-112 (Mar. 25, 1974). Repealed by P.L. 33- 065:7 (Aug. 25, 2015). ---------- ARTICLE 2 AUTHENTICATION OF MARRIAGE

Marriage must be licensed, solemnized, authenticated, and recorded as provided in this Article; but noncompliance with its provisions by others than a party to a marriage does not invalidate it. SOURCE: CC § 68.

(a) All persons about to be joined in marriage must first obtain a license therefore, from the Department of Public Health and Social Services, which license shall state: (1) the identity of the parties; (2) their full names, residence, and place of birth; (3) their date of birth…

The marriage license shall be presented to the person performing the ceremony and shall be filed by him with the Office of Vital Statistics, Department of Public Health and Social Services, within ten (10) days after the ceremony, together with certification that the marriage has…

(a) Marriage may be solemnized by: (1) I Maga’lahen Guåhan (the Governor of Guam), or his substitute; COL1312018 (2) the judges of the U.S. District Court, and the Superior Court of Guam; (3) all ordained clergymen and priests of whatsoever religious faith who are recognized as s…

the Director of Administration or Director of Public Health and Social Services. The duty of solemnizing the marriage ceremony on any day shall be obligatory upon all the judges, the Director of Revenue and Taxation, the Director of Administration or the Director of Public Health…

No particular form for the ceremony of marriage is required, but the parties must declare in the presence of the person solemnizing the marriage that they take each other as husband and wife, or as spouses. SOURCE: CC § 71. Amended by P.L. 33-065:10 (Aug. 25, 2015).