Ohio Code 2111.12 – Guardian of minor
(A) A minor over the age of fourteen years may select a guardian who shall be appointed if a suitable person. If a minor over the age of fourteen years fails to select a suitable person, an appointment may be made without reference to the minor’s wishes. The minor shall not select one person to be the guardian of the minor’s estate only and another to be the guardian of the person only, unless the court that appoints the guardian is of the opinion that the interests of that minor will be promoted by that selection.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 2111.12
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- Child: includes child by adoption. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
- Probate: Proving a will
(B) A surviving parent by a will in writing may appoint a guardian for any of the surviving parent’s children, whether born at the time of making the will or afterward, to continue during the minority of the child or for a less time.
When the father or mother of a minor names a person as guardian of the estate of that minor in a will, the person named shall have preference in appointment over the person selected by the minor. A person named in that will as guardian of the person of that minor shall have no preference in appointment over the person selected by the minor, but in that event the probate court may appoint the person named in the will, the person selected by the minor, or some other person.
Whenever a testamentary guardian is appointed, the testamentary guardian’s duties, powers, and liabilities in all other respects shall be governed by the law regulating guardians not appointed by will.
(C) A parent pursuant to a durable power of attorney under section 1337.24 or a writing as described in division (A) of section 2111.121 of the Revised Code may nominate a person to be a guardian for one or more of the parent’s minor children, whether born at the time of the making of the nomination or afterward.
The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.