§ 1489 Pre-1981 Guardian Appointments
This law says that a written choice made before Jan 1, 1981, about who should care for a child can be treated as an official nomination of a guardian, as long as it meets the rules in sections 1500 or 1501 and the person who wrote it was capable of making a clear decision.
A mother wrote a letter in 1978 naming her sister as the person who should take care of her 9‑year‑old daughter if the mother could no longer do so.
Because the letter meets the requirements of the statute, a court can treat that letter as if the mother had officially nominated her sister as guardian, even though the letter was created before 1981.
AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.
§ 1489 Pre-1981 Guardian Appointments
Last verified: January 11, 2026