§ 2661. Definitions
For the purposes of this article:
(1) “Best interests of the child” means a determination, based on consideration of all relevant factors and available options, of circumstances that will best provide the child with at a minimum all the following:
(A) Adequate food.
(B) Clothing.
(C) Health care.
(D) Any other material needs.
(E) A safe and nurturing environment that meets the child’s present and future developmental needs and promotes appropriate interactions and relationships with family members, foster family, and other people who will play a constructive role in the child’s life.
(F) Support to help the child adjust to home, school, and community.
(2) “Parent” means the parent or parents of a minor.
(3) “Permanent guardian” means one or two adults appointed by the court to act as a parent for a child during the child’s minority.
(4) “Permanent guardianship” means a legal guardianship of a minor that is intended to continue with the same guardian, based on the guardian’s express commitment, for the duration of the child’s minority.
(5) “Relative” means a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, niece, or nephew of a person, whether related to the person by the whole or the half blood, affinity, or adoption. The term does not include a person’s stepparent. (Added 1999, No. 162 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
Structure Vermont Statutes
Title 14 - Decedents' Estates and Fiduciary Relations
§ 2602. Court appointing, to have jurisdiction; accounts
§ 2623. Petition for guardianship of minor; service
§ 2624. Jurisdiction; transfer to Family Division
§ 2625. Hearing; counsel; guardian ad litem
§ 2626. Consensual guardianship
§ 2627. Nonconsensual guardianship
§ 2629. Powers and duties of guardian
§ 2631. Reports; review hearing
§ 2634. Department for Children and Families policy
§ 2641. Parents as joint guardians
§ 2643. Release by court and parent on behalf of minor
§ 2644. Child of unmarried woman
§ 2647. For minor interested in an estate
§ 2648. Parent may be appointed guardian
§ 2649. Guardian appointed for nonresident minor
§ 2650. Minor’s choice of guardian
§ 2652. Choice of another guardian by minor
§ 2654. Control over property in another state
§ 2655. Parent may have custody of person
§ 2656. Guardian appointed by will
§ 2659. Financial guardianship; minors
§ 2660. Statement of legislative intent
§ 2662. Permanent guardian; rights and obligations
§ 2663. Parent of the minor; rights and obligations; support
§ 2664. Creation of permanent guardianship
§ 2666. Modification; termination
§ 2667. Order for visitation, contact, or information; immediate harm to the minor
§ 2671. Voluntary guardianship
§ 2684. Spendthrift; hearing; notice
§ 2687. Expense of resisting application
§ 2690. Guardian to give notice that ward’s contracts and transfers will be void
§ 2691. Spouse to support and have custody
§ 2692. Extent of guardian’s control
§ 2693. Married woman may be guardian
§ 2711. Nonresidents; powers of guardian
§ 2751. Bonds; how conditioned
§ 2752. To respond for principal only; court may order income paid to parent
§ 2755. Limitation of action on bond
§ 2792. Appraisal to be made; exception
§ 2793. Guardian to account for and dispose of personalty
§ 2794. Citation of person suspected of embezzling or secreting
§ 2795. Commitment for disobedience; examination
§ 2797. Guardian to manage estate and maintain ward
§ 2798. Guardian may sell personalty and support ward
§ 2800. Disputed claim may be referred
§ 2801. Guardian may discharge mortgage; consent to sale of realty
§ 2802. Partition of estate of which ward has an undivided interest
§ 2803. Court may order personalty sold and proceeds invested in real estate
§ 2804. Court may order estate paid to guardian in other state
§ 2841. Limiting time for payment of debts
§ 2842. Realty to be taken when personalty exhausted
§ 2843. Claims, time for presenting limited; when barred
§ 2846. Court may order dividend
§ 2848. After dividend, claims barred as to guardian; exception
§ 2850. Ward not to be sued; action commenced before appointment may proceed
§ 2881. Real estate; when may be sold
§ 2882. Regulations under which license granted
§ 2885. Guardian to report sale
§ 2886. License when guardian or ward resides out of state
§ 2887. Conveyance of land that ward was under contract to convey
§ 2888. License not to be granted to creditors’ injury
§ 2889. If guardian grantee, judge to convey; deed, effect of
§ 2890. Lands held in trust to be conveyed to beneficiary
§ 2891. When guardian dies or is removed pending sale, new license
§ 2922. By guardian of nonresident ward
§ 2923. Property may be ordered into hands of nonresident guardian; proceedings
§ 2925. Guardian to swear to correctness of account
§ 2926. Surety may intervene as party; rights of surety
§ 2927. Remedy, after guardian’s discharge, reexamination of accounts
§ 2961. Previous acts confirmed and compensation allowed, on being lawfully appointed
§ 3001. Removal; resignation; marriage of guardian; vacancies
§ 3002. Minor ward’s marriage; exception
§ 3003. Parent may move for guardian’s removal; notice
§ 3005. Guardian refusing to give up ward, committed
§ 3062. Jurisdiction; review of guardian’s actions
§ 3063. Petition for guardianship
§ 3064. Notice of petition and hearing
§ 3067. Evaluation and report; background check; release of evaluation
§ 3068a. Rights of a person under guardianship
§ 3072. Guardians; individuals who may serve
§ 3073. Change of residential placement
§ 3074. Commitment, sterilization, involuntary treatment, and involuntary medication
§ 3075. Consent for medical or dental treatment
§ 3076. Annual reports; final accounting; fees
§ 3077. Termination and modification of guardianship
§ 3078. Annual notice to person in need of guardianship
§ 3079. Validity of prior guardianship
§ 3081. Emergency temporary guardian pending final hearing on petition
§ 3091. Office of Public Guardian established
§ 3092. Appointment of the Office of Public Guardian
§ 3093. Powers and duties of Public Guardian
§ 3094. Duty to seek private guardian
§ 3095. Statistics to be maintained