Article 1 - Nomination of Guardian

California Probate Code — §§ 1500-1502

Sections (4)

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

Subject to Section 1502, a parent may nominate a guardian of the person or estate, or both, of a minor child in either of the following cases:

(a)Where the other parent nominates, or consents in writing to the nomination of, the same guardian for the same child.

(b)Where, at the time the petition for appointment of the guardian is filed, either (1) the other parent is dead or lacks legal capacity to consent to the nomination or (2) the consent of the other parent would not be required for an adoption of the child.

§ 1500.1

Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 838, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 2007.

(a)Notwithstanding any other section in this part, and in accordance with Section 1913 of the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), consent to nomination of a guardian of the person or of a guardian of the person and the estate given by an Indian child’s parent is not valid unless both of the following occur:

(1)The consent is executed in writing at least 10 days after the child’s birth and recorded before a judge.

(2)The judge certifies that the terms and consequences of the consent were fully explained in detail in English and were fully understood by the parent or that they were interpreted into a language that the parent understood.

(b)The parent of an Indian child may withdraw his or her consent to guardianship for any reason at any time prior to the issuance of letters of guardianship and the child shall be returned to the parent.

§ 1501

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

Subject to Section 1502, a parent or any other person may nominate a guardian for property that a minor receives from or by designation of the nominator (whether before, at the time of, or after the nomination) including, but not limited to, property received by the minor by virtue of a gift, deed, trust, will, succession, insurance, or benefits of any kind.

§ 1502

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 664, Sec. 7. (AB 495) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)A nomination of a guardian under this article may be made in the petition for the appointment of the guardian or at the hearing on the petition or in a writing signed either before or after the petition for the appointment of the guardian is filed. The court shall give due weight to the nomination of a guardian of the person pursuant to Section 3043 of the Family Code.

(b)The nomination of a guardian under this article is effective when made except that a writing nominating a guardian under this article may provide that the nomination becomes effective only upon the occurrence of such condition or conditions as are specified in the writing, including, but not limited to, conditions as to the subsequent absence, legal incapacity, or death of the person making the

nomination.

(c)Unless the writing making the nomination expressly otherwise provides, a nomination made under this article remains effective notwithstanding the subsequent absence, legal incapacity, or death of the person making the nomination.