Designation of Guardian for Minor Child - Colorado

DESIGNATION OF GUARDIAN FOR MINOR CHILD

STATE OF COLORADO

Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-14-202 et seq.

ARTICLE I — DECLARANT INFORMATION

I, the undersigned Declarant, make this Designation of Guardian ("Designation") under and pursuant to the laws of the State of Colorado, including Colorado Revised Statutes § 15-14-202, which authorizes a parent to appoint a guardian for any minor child the parent has or may have in the future by will or other signed writing.

Status of Other Parent:

Colorado Law Note: Under C.R.S. § 15-14-202, a parent may appoint a guardian for a minor by will or other signed writing. The appointment becomes effective upon: (a) the death of the appointing parent or guardian; (b) an adjudication that the parent or guardian is an incapacitated person; or (c) a written determination by a physician who has examined the parent or guardian that the parent or guardian is no longer able to care for the child — whichever occurs first.

ARTICLE II — MINOR CHILDREN INFORMATION

I hereby designate a guardian for the following minor child(ren) for whom I have legal custody or parental authority:

Colorado Law Note: Under C.R.S. § 15-14-203(2), if a minor has attained twelve (12) years of age, the minor must consent to the appointment of a guardian. The minor shall file a written consent to the appointment with the court before it is accepted or within thirty-five (35) days after notice of its acceptance. If the minor does not consent, the court shall appoint a guardian pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-14-204.

ARTICLE III — DESIGNATION OF PRIMARY GUARDIAN

Section 3.1 — Primary Guardian

I hereby nominate and designate the following individual to serve as Guardian of the Person of my minor child(ren) named above, in the event of my death, incapacity, or inability to care for said child(ren), pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-14-202:

Scope: This designation nominates a guardian of the person. Any conservator for the child’s property requires a separate legal appointment.

Section 3.2 — First Alternate Guardian

If the Primary Guardian named above is unable or unwilling to serve, has predeceased me, or fails to accept the appointment, I designate the following individual as First Alternate Guardian:

Section 3.3 — Second Alternate Guardian

If neither the Primary Guardian nor the First Alternate Guardian is able or willing to serve, I designate the following individual as Second Alternate Guardian:

ARTICLE IV — GUARDIAN DUTIES AND LIMITATIONS

A person serving as guardian of the minor shall act in the child’s best interest, provide for the child’s support, care, education, health, and welfare, maintain contact sufficient to understand the child’s needs, protect the child’s personal effects, and handle any money received for the child as C.R.S. § 15-14-207 directs. A guardian’s authority remains subject to court orders and the rights of a parent.

I request these limitations on the nominee’s authority, if accepted by the court: [SPECIFIC LIMITATIONS OR NONE].

ARTICLE V — SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR CARE OF MINOR CHILD(REN)

The following are my care preferences for the nominee. They remain subject to the child's best interests, parental rights, applicable law, and any court order. They do not give this instrument authority to transfer property, change a policy beneficiary, or appoint a conservator.

Section 5.1 — Education

☐ The child(ren) shall continue attending their current school(s) to the extent practicable
☐ The child(ren) shall attend the following school(s): [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) shall attend a ☐ public ☐ private ☐ religious ☐ charter school
☐ I request homeschooling consistent with applicable law
☐ Special education services or IEP accommodations: [________________________________]
☐ College savings plan information (529 Plan): [________________________________]
☐ Other educational instructions: [________________________________]

Section 5.2 — Religious and Cultural Upbringing

☐ The child(ren) shall be raised in the following faith tradition: [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) shall attend religious services at: [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) shall participate in the following cultural traditions: [________________________________]
☐ No specific religious or cultural instructions

Section 5.3 — Medical Care

☐ The child(ren) shall continue care with their current healthcare providers: [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) have the following known allergies: [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) currently take the following medications: [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) have the following medical conditions requiring ongoing care: [________________________________]
☐ Health insurance information: [________________________________]
☐ Immunization preferences: [________________________________]
☐ Mental health care instructions: [________________________________]
☐ Other medical instructions: [________________________________]

Section 5.4 — Financial Provisions

☐ Existing life insurance policy that may benefit the child(ren): [POLICY AND CONTACT]
☐ Existing trust for the child(ren): [TRUST NAME AND TRUSTEE CONTACT]
☐ Existing resources available for child support, subject to their governing documents: [DETAILS]
☐ Suggested monthly child-care budget: $[________________________________]

Section 5.5 — Contact with Family Members

☐ The child(ren) shall maintain regular contact with the following family members: [________________________________]
☐ I request that the child(ren) not have contact with the following individuals, subject to parental rights and court orders: [________________________________]
☐ Visitation schedule with non-custodial parent (if applicable): [________________________________]

Section 5.6 — Extracurricular Activities and Lifestyle

☐ The child(ren) shall continue the following activities: [________________________________]
☐ Dietary restrictions or preferences: [________________________________]
☐ Pet care instructions: [________________________________]
☐ Other specific instructions: [________________________________]

ARTICLE VI — CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

Section 6.1 — Conditions on Guardianship

☐ This Designation applies to all minor child(ren) listed in Article II
☐ This Designation applies only to the following child(ren): [________________________________]
☐ I request a court limitation on relocation within Colorado as follows: [DETAILS]
☐ I request that the nominee seek express court authorization before moving the child(ren)'s custodial home outside Colorado
☐ Other conditions: [________________________________]

Section 6.2 — Persons Disqualified from Serving as Guardian

I expressly request that the following individual(s) NOT be appointed as guardian of my minor child(ren), and I state the reasons as follows:

ARTICLE VII — EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION

Section 7.1 — Statutory Effective Events

Subject to C.R.S. § 15-14-203, the appointment becomes effective upon my death, a judgment that I am incapacitated, or a written determination by a physician who examined me that I can no longer care for the child, whichever occurs first. The nominee becomes eligible to act only after filing an acceptance as C.R.S. § 15-14-202(4) requires.

Section 7.2 — Termination

Under C.R.S. § 15-14-210(1), a guardianship ordinarily ends upon the child’s death, adoption, emancipation, attainment of majority, or court order. The age-twenty-one exception concerns a court appointment under § 15-14-204(2.5) and is not selected by this designation.

ARTICLE VIII — REVOCATION OF PRIOR DESIGNATIONS

To the extent I may revoke a prior guardian appointment, I revoke my earlier appointments for the child(ren) named here, except [IDENTIFY ANY APPOINTMENT TO KEEP OR WRITE NONE].

Under C.R.S. § 15-14-202(1), I may revoke or amend this appointment before court confirmation.

ARTICLE IX — ACCEPTANCE BY DESIGNATED GUARDIAN

Primary Guardian Acceptance:

I, [________________________________], hereby acknowledge that I have read this Designation of Guardian, understand the responsibilities described herein, and am willing to serve as Guardian of the minor child(ren) named above. This signature does not replace the acceptance and court filing required after the appointment becomes effective.

Signature: ________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

First Alternate Guardian Acceptance:

I, [________________________________], hereby acknowledge that I have read this Designation of Guardian, understand the responsibilities described herein, and am willing to serve as Alternate Guardian of the minor child(ren) named above, should the Primary Guardian be unable or unwilling to serve. A separate acceptance must be filed if this appointment becomes effective.

Signature: ________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

ARTICLE X — DECLARANT SIGNATURE

I sign this Designation voluntarily as my present choice of guardian for the child(ren) identified above.

Signature of Declarant: ________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Printed Name: [________________________________]

ARTICLE XI — WITNESS ATTESTATION (OPTIONAL)

We witnessed the Declarant sign this instrument or acknowledge the signature below. The signed writing, rather than these optional witness signatures, makes the appointment under C.R.S. § 15-14-202(1).

Witness No. 1:

Witness No. 2:

ARTICLE XII — NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT (OPTIONAL)

STATE OF COLORADO
COUNTY OF [________________________________]

On this [____] day of [________________], 20[____], before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared [________________________________], known to me (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged to me that they executed the same in their authorized capacity and that by their signature on the instrument, the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Notary Public Signature: ________________________________

Printed Name of Notary: [________________________________]

My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

[NOTARY SEAL]

ARTICLE XIII — FILING AND RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS

Important Colorado Practice Notes:

1. Acceptance and filing: For this signed writing, the nominee files an acceptance and this instrument within thirty days after the appointment becomes effective in the court of the county where the child resides or is present. The nominee gives the written notice required by C.R.S. § 15-14-202(4)-(5), including objection and refusal rights when the court has not already confirmed the appointment. Unless it was previously confirmed, the nominee petitions for confirmation within thirty days after filing the notice and instrument, with the notice required by § 15-14-202(6).

2. Effective Date: The appointment becomes effective upon the first to occur of: (a) the death of the appointing parent; (b) an adjudication of incapacity; or (c) a physician's written determination that the parent can no longer care for the child.

3. Minor's Consent (Age 12+): Under C.R.S. § 15-14-203(2), a minor who has attained twelve (12) years of age must consent to the appointment. The written consent must be filed with the court before the appointment is accepted or within thirty-five (35) days after notice of acceptance.

4. Distribution of Copies: Provide copies to:

   • The designated Primary Guardian and Alternate Guardian(s)
   • Your estate planning attorney
   • Any person having care of the minor child(ren)
   • The minor, if twelve (12) years of age or older

5. Objection: Under C.R.S. § 15-14-203, the other parent or a person caring for the child may object until the court confirms the appointee. A child age twelve or older may consent or refuse to consent.

6. Out-of-state move: A guardian may move the child's custodial dwelling outside Colorado only with express court authorization under C.R.S. § 15-14-208(2)(b), subject to any governing custody order.

7. Review and Update: Review this Designation after significant changes such as marriage, divorce, relocation, or the birth of another child.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• Colorado Revised Statutes Title 15, Article 14, Part 2 — Guardianship of Minor (C.R.S. §§ 15-14-201 through 15-14-210)
• Official current Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 15: https://olls.info/crs/crs2026-title-15.htm

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Colorado attorney. Laws are subject to change, and the applicability of this template to your specific circumstances should be verified by qualified legal counsel.