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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68554</law_id><section_number>64.2-1701</section_number><catch_line>Testamentary guardians</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>64.2-1702</reference><reference>64.2-1800</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="64.2">Wills, Trusts, and Fiduciaries</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Fiduciaries and Guardians</unit><unit label="part" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="C">Guardianship of Minor</unit><unit label="chapter" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="17">Appointment of Guardian</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every parent may by <span class="dictionary">will</span> appoint (i) a guardian of the person of his <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child and (ii) a guardian for the estate bequeathed or devised by the parent to his <span class="dictionary">minor</span> child for such time during the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s infancy as the parent directs. A guardian of a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s estate shall have <span class="dictionary">custody</span> and control of the estate committed to his care. A guardian of the person of a <span class="dictionary">minor</span> other than a parent is not entitled to <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the person of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> so long as either of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s parents is living and such parent is a fit and proper person to have <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>. <a id="paragraph-248152" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1701/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The appointment of any guardian pursuant to subsection A shall be void if the guardian (i) renounces the guardianship or (ii) fails to appear in the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">will</span> is admitted to probate within six months after the probate to accept the guardianship and give any <span class="dictionary">bond</span> required under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guardian's bond" href="/64.2-1704/">64.2-1704</a>. <a id="paragraph-248153" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1701/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7;&#xA7; 5314, 5315; 1930, p. 686; Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 31-2, 31-3; 1989, c. 535; 1999, c. 16; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
