Relating to a written declaration to designate a guardian before the need for a guardian arises.

This bill would modify the rules surrounding the declaration of guardianship, and it would change the form requirements. Under current law, a declaration for guardianship must be written in the declarant’s handwriting or attested to in the declarant’s presence by at least two credible witnesses who meet certain qualifications. If this bill passes, and if the declaration for guardianship does not expressly disqualify an individual from serving as the guardian, the declaration must be signed by the declarant and may be acknowledged by a notary public to be considered valid. This would allow a guardian to be designated before the need for a guardian arises. 

This is a procedural bill would allow a little more flexibility regarding how a guardian may be designated. However, SB 511 does not have an apparent connection to our liberty principles so we will remain neutral.