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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62421</law_id><section_number>64.2-1703</section_number><catch_line>Nomination of guardians</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1209</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> A <span class="dictionary">minor</span> who is at least 14 years old may, in the presence of the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or clerk, or in writing acknowledged before any officer qualified to take acknowledgments, nominate his own guardian for the estate or person of the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, who shall be appointed if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or clerk find that the guardian nominated is suitable and competent. If the guardian nominated by the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> is not appointed, if the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> resides without the Commonwealth, or if the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or clerk finds that the guardian nominated is not suitable and competent, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or clerk may nominate and appoint a guardian for the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> in the same manner as if the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> were less than 14 years old. <a id="paragraph-227619" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1703/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In no case shall any person not related to the <span class="dictionary">minor</span> be appointed guardian until 30 days have elapsed since the death or disqualification of any natural or testamentary guardians and the <span class="dictionary">minor</span>&#x2019;s next of kin have had an opportunity to <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">court</span> for appointment and unless the <span class="dictionary">court</span> or clerk is satisfied that such nonrelated person is competent to perform the duties of his office. <a id="paragraph-227620" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/64.2-1703/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 5317; 1926, p. 589; 1928, p. 1085; 1946, p. 223; Code 1950, &#xA7; 31-5; 1954, c. 468; 1999, c. 16; 2012, c. 614.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
