Guardianship – General – Illinois

STATUTORY REFERENCE
ALL REFERENCES ARE TO THE ILLINOIS COMPILED STATUTES

APPOINTMENT OF SHORT-TERM GUARDIAN
(§§ 755 ILCS 5/11-1 through 755 ILCS 5/11-6)

Section 755 ILCS 5/11-1: A minor is a person who has not attained the age of 18 years. A person who has attained the age of 18 years is of  legal age for all purposes except as otherwise provided in the  Illinois Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.

Section 755 ILCS 5/11-3:

(a) A person who has attained the age of 18 years, is a resident of the United States, is not of unsound mind, is not an  adjudged  disabled person  as  defined in this Act, has not been convicted of a felony, and who the court finds is capable  of  providing an active  and  suitable program of guardianship for the minor is qualified to act as guardian of the  person  and as guardian of the estate. One person may be appointed guardian of the person and another person  appointed guardian  of  the estate.
(b) The Department of Human Services or the Department of Children and Family Services may with the approval of the court designate one of its employees to serve without fees as guardian of the estate of a minor patient in a State mental hospital or a resident in a State institution when the value of the personal estate does not exceed $1,000.

Section 755 ILCS 5/11-5:

(a)  Upon the filing of a petition for the appointment of a guardian or on its own motion, the court may appoint a guardian of the estate  or of  both the person and estate, of a minor, or may appoint a guardian of the person only of a minor or minors, as the court finds to be  in  the best interest of the minor or minors.

(a-1)  A  parent, adoptive parent or adjudicated  parent,whose parental  rights have not been terminated, may designate in any writing, including a will, a person qualified to act under Section 11-3 to be appointed as guardian of the person or estate, or both, of an unmarried minor or of a child likely to be born.  A parent, adoptive parent  or adjudicated parent, whose parental rights have not been terminated, or a guardian  or a standby guardian of an unmarried minor or of a child likely to be born may designate in any writing, including a will, a person qualified to act under Section 11-3 to be appointed as successor guardian of the minor’s person or estate, or both.  The designation must be witnessed by 2 or more credible witnesses at least 18 years of  age, neither of whom is the person designated as the guardian.   The designation may be proved by any competent evidence.  If the designation is  executed and attested in the same manner as a will, it shall have prima facie  validity.  The designation of a guardian or successor guardian does not affect the rights of the other parent in the minor.

(b)  The court lacks jurisdiction to proceed on a petition for the appointment of a guardian of a minor if

(i) the minor has a living parent, adoptive parent or adjudicated parent, whose parental rights have not been terminated, whose whereabouts are known, and  who is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the minor, unless the parent or parents consent to the appointment or,  after receiving notice of the hearing under Section 11-10.1, fail to object to the  appointment at the hearing on the petition or
(ii) there is a guardian for the minor appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction.  There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a parent of a minor is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the minor, but the  presumption may  be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

(b-1)  If the court finds the appointment of a guardian of the minor to  be  in the best interest of the minor, and if a standby guardian has previously been appointed for the minor under Section 11-5.3, the  court shall  appoint  the  standby guardian  as the guardian of the person or estate, or both, of the minor unless the court finds,  upon  good  cause shown, that  the appointment would no longer be in the best interest of the minor.

(c) If the minor is 14 years of age or more, the minor may nominate the guardian of the minor’s person and estate, subject to approval of the  court.  If the minor’s nominee is not approved by the court or if, after notice to the minor, the minor fails to nominate a guardian of the minor’s person or estate, the court may  appoint  the  guardian  without nomination.
(d) The court shall  not appoint as guardian of the person of the minor  any  person whom the court has determined had caused or substantially contributed  to  the minor becoming a neglected or abused minor as defined in the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 unless 2 years have elapsed since the last proven incident of abuse or neglect and the court determines that appointment  of such person as guardian is in the best interests of the minor.
(e)  Previous statements made by the minor relating to any allegations that the  minor is an abused or neglected child within the meaning of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, or an abused or neglected minor within the meaning of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, shall be admissible in evidence in a hearing concerning appointment of a guardian of the person or estate of the minor.  No such statement, however, if uncorroborated and not subject to cross-examination,  shall be sufficient in itself to support a finding of abuse or neglect.

Section 755 ILCS 5/11-5.3:

(a)  A parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent whose parental rights have not been terminated, or the guardian of the person of a minor may designate in any writing, including a will, a person qualified to act under  Section  11-3 to be appointed as standby guardian of the person or estate, or both, of an unmarried minor or of a child likely to be born. A parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent  whose parental  rights have not been terminated, or the guardian of the person of a minor or a standby guardian of an unmarried minor or of a child likely to be born  may  designate in any writing, including a will, a person qualified to act under Section 11-3 to be appointed as successor standby guardian of the  minor’s person or  estate,  or  both.  The designation must be witnessed by 2 or more credible witnesses at least 18 years of age, neither of whom is the person designated as the standby guardian. The designation may be proved by any competent evidence. If the designation  is executed and attested in the same manner as a will, it shall have prima facie validity.  The  designation of a standby guardian or successor standby guardian does not affect the rights of the other parent in the minor.
(b)  Upon the filing of a petition for the appointment of a standby guardian, the court may appoint a standby guardian of the person or estate, or both, of a minor as  the  court finds to be in the best interest of the minor.
(c)  The court lacks jurisdiction to proceed on a petition for the appointment  of  a standby guardian of a minor if the minor has a living parent, adoptive parent or adjudicated parent, whose parental rights have not been terminated, whose  whereabouts are known, and who is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the minor, unless the parent or parents consent to the appointment or, after receiving notice of  the hearing  under  Section 11-10.1,  fail to object to the  appointment at the hearing on the petition.  There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a parent of a minor is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the minor, but the presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.
(d)  The standby guardian shall take and file an oath or affirmation that the standby guardian will faithfully discharge the  duties  of  the office of standby guardian according to law, and shall file in and have approved by the court a bond binding the standby guardian so to do, but shall not be required to file a bond until the standby guardian assumes all duties as guardian of the minor under Section 11-13.1.
(e)  The designation of a standby guardian may, but need not, be in the following form:

DESIGNATION OF STANDBY GUARDIAN

[IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:]

A standby guardian is someone who has been appointed by the court as the person who will act as guardian of the child when the child’s parents or the guardian of the person of the child die or are no longer willing or able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the child. By properly completing this form, a parent or the guardian of the person of the child is naming the person that the parent or the guardian wants to be appointed as the standby guardian of the child or children. Both parents of a child may join together and co-sign this form. Signing the form does not appoint the standby guardian; to be appointed, a petition must be filed in and approved by the court.]

1. I, (insert name of designating parent or  guardian), currently residing at (insert address of designating parent or guardian), am a parent (or  the guardian of the person) of the following child or children (or of a child likely to be born):  (insert name and date of birth of each child, or insert the words “not yet born” to designate a standby guardian for a child likely to be born and the child’s expected date of birth).
2. I hereby designate the following person to be appointed as standby guardian for the child or children listed above (insert name and address of person designated).
3. If the person named in item 2 above cannot or will not act as standby guardian,  I designate the following person to be appointed as successor standby guardian for the child or children: (insert  name and address of  person designated).
4. This designation is made this (insert day) day of (insert month and year).
Signed:  (designating parent or guardian)
5. I saw the parent (or the guardian of the person of the child) sign this designation or the parent (or the guardian of the person of the child) told me that (he or she) signed this designation. Then I signed the  designation as a witness in the presence of the parent (or the guardian). I am not designated in this instrument to act as a standby guardian for the child or children. (insert  space for names, addresses, and signatures of 2 witnesses).

Section 755 ILCS 5/11-5.4:

(a)  A parent, adoptive parent, or adjudicated parent whose parental rights have not been terminated, or the guardian  of the person of a minor may appoint  in writing, without court approval, a short-term guardian of an unmarried minor or a  child likely to be born. The written instrument appointing a short-term guardian shall be dated and shall identify the appointing parent or guardian, the minor, and the person  appointed to be the short-term guardian.  The written instrument shall be signed by, or at the direction of, the appointing parent in the presence of at least 2 credible witnesses at least 18 years of age, neither of whom is the person appointed as the short-term guardian.  The person  appointed as the short-term guardian shall also sign the written instrument, but need not sign at the same time as the appointing parent.
(b)  A parent or guardian shall not appoint a short-term guardian of a minor if the minor has another living  parent, adoptive parent or adjudicated parent, whose  parental rights have not been terminated, whose whereabouts are known, and who is willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the minor, unless the nonappointing parent consents to the appointment by signing the written instrument of appointment.
(c)  The appointment of the short-term guardian is effective immediately upon the date the written instrument is executed, unless the written instrument provides for the appointment to become effective upon a later specified date or event.  The  short-term  guardian  shall  have authority to act as guardian of the minor as provided in Section 11-13.2 for  a period  of  60  days from the date the appointment is effective, unless the written instrument provides for the appointment to  terminate upon  an  earlier  specified  date or event. Only one written instrument appointing a short-term guardian may be in force at any given time.
(d)  Every appointment of a short-term guardian may be amended or revoked  by the appointing parent or by the appointing guardian of the person of the minor at any time and in any manner communicated to the short-term guardian or to any other person.  Any person other than the short-term guardian to whom a revocation or amendment is communicated or delivered shall make all reasonable efforts to  inform  the short-term guardian of that fact as promptly as possible.
(e)  The appointment of a short-term guardian or successor short-term guardian does not affect the rights of the other parent in the minor.
(f)  The written instrument appointing a short-term guardian may, but need not, be in the following form:

APPOINTMENT OF SHORT-TERM GUARDIAN

[IT IS IMPORTANT TO READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:]

By properly completing this form, a parent or the guardian of  the person of the child is appointing a guardian of a child of the parent(or a minor ward of the guardian, as the case may be) for a period of up to 60 days.  A separate form should be completed  for each child.  The person  appointed as the guardian must sign the form, but need not do so at the same time as the parent or parents or guardian. This form may not be used to  appoint a guardian if  there is  a guardian already  appointed for the child, except that if a guardian of the person of the child has been appointed, that guardian may  use this form to appoint a short-term guardian.  Both living parents of a child may together appoint a guardian of the child, or the guardian of the person of the child may appoint a guardian of the child, for a period of up to 60 days through the use of this form. If the short-term guardian is appointed by both living parents of the child, the parents need not sign the form at the same time.]

1.  Parent (or  guardian) and  Child.  I, (insert name of appointing parent  or guardian), currently residing at (insert address of  appointing  parent  or  guardian),  am a parent (or the guardian of the person) of the following child (or of a child likely to be born):(insert name and date of birth of child, or insert the words “not yet born” to appoint a short-term guardian for a child likely to be born and the child’s expected date of birth).
2.  Guardian.  I hereby appoint the following person as the short-term guardian for the  child: (insert  name  and  address  of appointed person).
3.  Effective date.  This appointment becomes effective: (check one if you wish it to be applicable)

( )  On  the  date  that  I  state in writing that I am no longer either willing or able to make and carry out  day-to-day child care decisions concerning the child.
( )  On  the  date  that  a  physician familiar  with  my condition  certifies  in writing that I am no longer willing or able to make and carry  out  day-to-day child  care  decisions concerning the child.
( )  On  the date that I am admitted as an in-patient to a hospital or other health care institution.
( )  On the following date: (insert date).
( )  Other: (insert other).
[NOTE:  If this item is not completed, the appointment is effective immediately upon the date the form is signed and dated below.]

4.  Termination.   This  appointment shall  terminate  60 days after the effective date, unless it terminates sooner as  determined by  the event or date I have indicated below: (check one if you wish it to be applicable)

( )  On the date that I state in writing that I am willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the child.
( )  On the date that a physician familiar with my condition certifies in writing that I am willing and able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the child.
( )  On the date that I am discharged from the hospital or other  health  care  institution where I was admitted as an in-patient, which established the effective date.
( )  On the date which is (state a number of days, but no more than 60 days) days after the effective date.
( )  Other: (insert other).
[NOTE:  If this item is not completed, the appointment will be effective for a period of 60 days, beginning on the effective date.]

5.  Date  and signature of appointing parent or guardian.  This appointment is made this (insert  day) day of (insert month and year).
Signed:  (appointing parent)
6.  Witnesses.  I saw the parent (or the guardian of the person of  the  child)  sign this instrument or I saw the parent (or the guardian of the person of the child) direct someone to sign this instrument for the parent (or  the guardian). Then I signed this instrument as a witness in the presence of the parent (or  the guardian). I am not  appointed in this instrument to act as the short-term guardian for the child.(Insert  space for names, addresses, and signatures of 2 witnesses)
7.  Acceptance of short-term guardian. I accept this appointment as short-term guardian on this (insert  day) day of (insert month and year).
Signed:  (short-term guardian)
8.  Consent  of  child’s  other parent.  I, (insert name of the child’s other living parent), currently residing at (insert  address of  child’s other living parent), hereby consent to this appointment on this (insert day) day of (insert month and year).
Signed:  (consenting parent)
[NOTE:  The signature of a consenting parent is not necessary if one of the  following  applies:

(i) the child’s other parent has died; or
(ii) the whereabouts of the child’s other parent are not known; or
(iii) the child’s other parent is not willing or able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the child; or
(iv) the child’s parents were never married and no court has issued an order establishing parentage.]

Section 755 ILCS 5/11-6: If the minor is a resident of this State, the proceeding  shall be instituted in the court of the county in which he resides.  If the minor is not a resident of this State, the proceeding shall be instituted in the court of a county in which his real or personal estate is located.

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