(a) The juvenile court may terminate or modify a guardianship of the person of a minor previously established under the Probate Code, or appoint a coguardian or successor guardian of the person of the minor, if the minor is the subject of a petition filed under Section 300, 601, or 602. If the probation officer supervising the minor provides information to the court regarding the minor’s present circumstances and makes a recommendation to the court regarding a motion to terminate or modify a guardianship established in any county under the Probate Code, or to appoint a coguardian or successor guardian, of the person of a minor who is before the juvenile court under a petition filed under Section 300, 601, or 602, the court shall order the appropriate county department, or the district attorney or county counsel, to file the recommended motion. The motion may also be made by the guardian or the minor’s attorney. The hearing on the motion may be held simultaneously with any regularly scheduled hearing held in proceedings to declare the minor a dependent child or ward of the court, or at any subsequent hearing concerning the dependent child or ward. Notice requirements of Section 294 shall apply to the proceedings in juvenile court under this subdivision.
(b) If the juvenile court decides to terminate or modify a guardianship previously established under the Probate Code pursuant to subdivision (a), the juvenile court shall provide notice of that decision to the court in which the guardianship was originally established. The clerk of the superior court, upon receipt of the notice, shall file the notice with other documents and records of the pending proceeding and deliver by first-class mail or by electronic service pursuant to Section 1215 of the Probate Code a copy of the notice to all parties of record in the superior court.
(c) If, at any time during the period a minor under the age of 18 years is a ward of the juvenile court, the probation officer supervising the minor recommends to the court that the court establish a guardianship of the person of the minor and appoint a specific adult to act as guardian, or on the motion of the minor’s attorney, or on the order of the court that a guardianship shall be established as the minor’s permanent plan pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 727.3, the court shall set a hearing to consider the recommendation or motion and shall order the clerk to notice the minor’s parents and relatives as required in Section 294. If the motion is not made by the minor’s attorney, the court may appoint the district attorney or county counsel to prosecute the action.
(d) The procedures for appointment of a guardian shall be conducted exclusively pursuant to Section 366.26, except that subdivision (j) of Section 366.26 shall not apply.
(e) Upon the appointment of a guardian pursuant to subdivision (d), the court may continue wardship and conditions of probation, or may terminate the wardship of the minor.
(f) Notwithstanding Section 1601 of the Probate Code, the proceedings to modify or terminate a guardianship granted under this section shall be held in the juvenile court unless the termination is due to the emancipation or adoption of the minor.
(g) The Judicial Council shall develop rules of court and adopt appropriate forms for the findings and orders under this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 319, Sec. 142. (AB 976) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018