29A-5-202. Nomination of guardian or conservator by minor or parent.
A minor, age fourteen or older, may nominate any individual or entity to act as his guardian or conservator. The nomination may be made in writing or by an oral request to the court. The court may appoint the individual or entity so nominated if the nominee is otherwise eligible to act and would serve in the minor's best interests. However, no nomination by a minor may supersede a previous appointment by the court.
A parent of an unmarried minor may nominate a guardian or conservator of the minor by will or other signed writing. Absent an effective nomination by the minor, the court may appoint a parental nominee if both parents are dead and the nominee is otherwise eligible to act and would serve in the minor's best interests. In the event that both parents have made nominations, the court shall select the nominee which it believes best qualified. A parental nomination shall be effective whether or not the minor was living at the time of the making of the will or other signed writing. However, no parental nomination may supersede a previous appointment by the court.
Absent an effective nomination by a minor, age fourteen or older, or deceased parent, the court shall appoint as guardian or conservator the individual or entity that will act in the minor's best interests. In making that appointment, the court shall consider the proposed guardian's or conservator's geographic location, familial or other relationship with the minor, ability to carry out the powers and duties of the office, commitment to promoting the minor's welfare, any potential conflicts of interest, the recommendations of the parents or other interested relatives, and the wishes of the minor if the minor is of sufficient age to form an intelligent preference. The court may appoint more than one guardian or conservator and need not appoint the same individual or entity to serve as both guardian and conservator.
Source: SL 1993, ch 213, §20; SDCL 30-36-20; SL 1995, ch 167, §181.
Structure South Dakota Codified Laws
Title 29A - Uniform Probate Code
Chapter 05 - South Dakota Guardianship And Conservatorship Act
Section 29A-5-101 - Citation of chapter.
Section 29A-5-102 - Definition of terms.
Section 29A-5-103 - Application of chapter.
Section 29A-5-104 - Application of circuit court rules of procedure.
Section 29A-5-106.1 - Applicability of §§ 29A-5-106, 29A-5-106.1 and chapter 25-5.
Section 29A-5-108 - Filing petition for appointment--Jurisdiction.
Section 29A-5-109 - Transfer of jurisdiction following appointment.
Section 29A-5-110 - Appointment of individual or entity--Qualifications.
Section 29A-5-111 - Filing of acceptance and bond--Amount of bond--Notice of nonrenewal.
Section 29A-5-112 - Action for breach of bond--Time limit.
Section 29A-5-113 - Designation of agent for non-resident guardian or conservator.
Section 29A-5-114 - Petition for appointment by guardian or conservator appointed in another state.
Section 29A-5-117 - Appointment of attorney, guardian ad litem, or court representative.
Section 29A-5-118 - Effect--Appointment--Guardian--Conservator--Minor--Protected Person.
Section 29A-5-119 - Training curricula for persons appointed as guardians and conservators.
Section 29A-5-201 - Appointment of guardian or conservator of minor.
Section 29A-5-202 - Nomination of guardian or conservator by minor or parent.
Section 29A-5-203 - Who may file petition for appointment--Contents of petition.
Section 29A-5-204 - Notice of appointment hearing--Exception.
Section 29A-5-206 - Filing of minor's financial statement.
Section 29A-5-207 - Certain documents to be sealed--Available to certain persons.
Section 29A-5-209 - Mailing copy of appointment order.
Section 29A-5-210 - Appointment of temporary guardian or conservator.
Section 29A-5-301 - Appointment of guardian or conservator of protected person.
Section 29A-5-303 - Persons for whom conservator may be appointed.
Section 29A-5-305 - Who may file petition--Contents of petition.
Section 29A-5-306 - Report to be included with petition--Contents.
Section 29A-5-307 - Filing financial statement of protected person.
Section 29A-5-308 - Notice of hearing for protected person.
Section 29A-5-309 - Contest of appointment by protected person.
Section 29A-5-310 - Duties of court representative.
Section 29A-5-311 - Protected person's pre-hearing record sealed.
Section 29A-5-312 - Hearing for alleged person in need of protection--Duty of jury--Duty of court.
Section 29A-5-313 - Mailing appointment order to protected person.
Section 29A-5-314 - Issuing letter of guardianship or conservatorship.
Section 29A-5-315 - Temporary guardian or conservator of protected person.
Section 29A-5-402 - Responsibility of guardian of protected person.
Section 29A-5-403 - Annual report of guardian of protected person.
Section 29A-5-404 - Responsibilities of minor's conservator.
Section 29A-5-405 - Responsibilities of conservator of protected person.
Section 29A-5-406 - Protective arrangements for minors or protected persons.
Section 29A-5-407 - Inventory of minor's or protected person's real and personal estate.
Section 29A-5-408 - Annual accounting of conservator.
Section 29A-5-409 - Waiver of accounting requirements--Change in frequency of accountings.
Section 29A-5-410 - Notice of hearing on petition for order subsequent to appointment.
Section 29A-5-411 - Powers of conservator.
Section 29A-5-412 - Confirmation of sale of real estate.
Section 29A-5-413 - Restrictions on conservator of minor or protected person.
Section 29A-5-414 - Liability of guardian for acts of minor or protected person.
Section 29A-5-416 - Multiple guardians--Majority concurrence.
Section 29A-5-417 - Presumption of authority of guardian or conservator.
Section 29A-5-418 - Filing letters of conservatorship--Proper county--Constructive notice.
Section 29A-5-423 - Court action to restrict interaction with family member.
Section 29A-5-424 - Good cause factors for restricting interaction.
Section 29A-5-425 - Types of restrictions--Supervised interaction.
Section 29A-5-502 - Appointment of additional guardians or conservators--Successors.
Section 29A-5-503 - Petition to resign as guardian or conservator.
Section 29A-5-504 - Petition to remove guardian or conservator--Reasons for removal.
Section 29A-5-507 - Termination of guardianship or conservatorship upon death of protected person.
Section 29A-5-509 - Hearing on petition to terminate, revoke, or modify--Jury--Duty of court.
Section 29A-5-510 - State as conservator of protected person--Distribution of assets upon death.