72-5-231. Powers and duties of guardian of minor. Unless otherwise limited by the court, a guardian of a minor has the powers and responsibilities of a parent who has not been deprived of custody of the parent's minor and unemancipated child, except that a guardian is not legally obligated to provide from the guardian's own funds for the ward and is not liable to third persons by reason of the parental relationship for acts of the ward. In particular and without qualifying the foregoing, a guardian has the following powers and duties:

(1) The guardian shall take reasonable care of the ward's personal effects and commence protective proceedings if necessary to protect other property of the ward.

(2) The guardian may receive money payable for the support of the ward to the ward's parent, guardian, or custodian under the terms of any statutory benefit or insurance system or any private contract, devise, trust, conservatorship, or custodianship. The guardian also may receive money or property of the ward paid or delivered by virtue of 72-5-104. Any sums received must be applied to the ward's current needs for support, care, and education. The guardian shall exercise due care to conserve any excess for the ward's future needs unless a conservator has been appointed for the estate of the ward, in which case the excess must be paid at least annually to the conservator. Sums received by the guardian may not be used for compensation for the guardian's services except as approved by an order of the court or as determined by a duly appointed conservator other than the guardian. A guardian may institute proceedings to compel the performance by any person of a duty to support the ward or to pay sums for the welfare of the ward.

(3) The guardian is empowered to facilitate the ward's education, social, or other activities and to authorize medical or other professional care, treatment, or advice. A guardian is not liable by reason of this consent for injury to the ward resulting from the negligence or acts of third persons unless it would have been illegal for a parent to have consented. A guardian may consent to the marriage or adoption of the ward.

(4) A guardian shall report the condition of the ward and of the ward's estate that has been subject to the guardian's possession or control, as ordered by the court on petition of any person interested in the minor's welfare or as required by court rule.

(5) Upon the death of a guardian's ward, the guardian, upon an order of the court and if there is no personal representative authorized to do so, may make necessary arrangements for the removal, transportation, and final disposition, including burial, entombment, or cremation, of the ward's physical remains and for the receipt and disposition of the ward's clothing, furniture, and other personal effects that may be in the possession of the person in charge of the ward's care, comfort, and maintenance at the time of the ward's death.

History: En. 91A-5-209 by Sec. 1, Ch. 365, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 91A-5-209; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 279, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 238, L. 2003.