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:

Type of Guardianship Designated:

☐ Guardian of the Person only
☐ Guardian of the Estate only (Conservator under C.R.S. § 15-14-401 et seq.)
☐ Guardian of both the Person and Estate

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 — POWERS GRANTED TO GUARDIAN

Section 4.1 — General Powers

Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-14-207, the Guardian shall have the following powers and duties with respect to the minor child(ren):

☐ The power to take custody of the minor and establish the minor's place of abode within or outside Colorado
☐ The duty to provide for the care, comfort, and maintenance of the minor
☐ The duty to take reasonable care of the minor's personal effects
☐ The authority to consent to medical, dental, psychiatric, psychological, hygienic, or other remedial care or treatment for the minor
☐ The authority to consent to the minor's marriage or adoption
☐ The authority to make decisions regarding the minor's education and training, including the right to apply for enrollment and to sign required consents and authorizations
☐ The authority to apply for and receive government benefits on behalf of the minor
☐ The right to reasonable compensation for services rendered as guardian, subject to court approval

Section 4.2 — Financial Powers (if Guardian of the Estate is designated)

☐ The authority to manage the minor's financial assets, investments, and property
☐ The authority to apply income and estate assets for the minor's support, care, education, health, and welfare
☐ The duty to file periodic accountings with the court as required by C.R.S. § 15-14-210
☐ The authority to collect, hold, and retain assets of the estate, including assets in which the estate has an interest

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

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
☐ The child(ren) shall be homeschooled in accordance with Colorado law (C.R.S. § 22-33-104.5)
☐ 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

☐ Life insurance policy proceeds are designated for the care of the minor child(ren). Policy No.: [________________________________]
☐ Trust funds have been established for the child(ren). Trust Name: [________________________________]
☐ The following assets are designated for child support: [________________________________]
☐ Monthly budget guidance for child care: $[________________________________]

Section 5.5 — Contact with Family Members

☐ The child(ren) shall maintain regular contact with the following family members: [________________________________]
☐ The child(ren) shall NOT have contact with the following individuals: [________________________________]
☐ 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): [________________________________]
☐ The Guardian shall not relocate the child(ren) outside the State of Colorado without court approval
☐ The Guardian shall not relocate the child(ren) outside of [________________________________] County without court approval
☐ 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 — Triggering Events

Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-14-202, this Designation shall become effective upon the first to occur of the following (check all that apply):

☐ My death
☐ An adjudication that I am an incapacitated person
☐ A written determination by a physician who has examined me that I am no longer able to care for the child(ren)
☐ Other triggering event: [________________________________]

Section 7.2 — Duration

This Designation shall remain in effect until:

☐ The minor child(ren) reach the age of majority (eighteen years of age under Colorado law, or twenty-one if the court extends guardianship under C.R.S. § 15-14-204(3))
☐ A court of competent jurisdiction enters an order modifying or terminating this Designation
☐ I revoke this Designation in writing
☐ The Guardian resigns or is removed by court order
☐ A minor who has attained twelve (12) years of age refuses to consent under C.R.S. § 15-14-203(2)

ARTICLE VIII — REVOCATION OF PRIOR DESIGNATIONS

I hereby revoke all prior designations of guardian for the minor child(ren) named in this instrument, whether made by will, written declaration, or other instrument. This Designation supersedes any and all prior guardianship designations executed by me.

A parent may revoke this Designation at any time before the appointment is accepted by filing a written revocation with the court in which the instrument was filed or by executing a subsequent designation or will that expressly revokes the prior appointment.

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 accept the appointment as Guardian of the minor child(ren) named above, subject to court confirmation as required by Colorado law.

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 accept the appointment as Alternate Guardian of the minor child(ren) named above, should the Primary Guardian be unable or unwilling to serve.

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

Printed Name: [________________________________]

ARTICLE X — DECLARANT SIGNATURE

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Colorado that the foregoing is true and correct, that I am of sound mind, and that I execute this Designation voluntarily and without duress or undue influence.

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

Printed Name: [________________________________]

ARTICLE XI — WITNESS ATTESTATION

We, the undersigned witnesses, each being at least eighteen (18) years of age and of sound mind, declare that the Declarant signed this instrument in our presence, or acknowledged to us that the Declarant signed this instrument, and that the Declarant appeared to be of sound mind and not acting under duress or undue influence.

Witness No. 1:

Witness No. 2:

ARTICLE XII — NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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. Written Instrument Filing: Under C.R.S. § 15-14-202, if the appointment is made by a writing other than a will, it must be a signed writing. The Guardian's acceptance should be filed with the court in which the writing is filed or in the court at the place where the minor resides or is present.

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
   - The Clerk of the District or Probate Court in your county of residence
   - Any person having care of the minor child(ren)
   - The minor, if twelve (12) years of age or older

5. Court Priority: Under C.R.S. § 15-14-202, a parent's appointment has priority over any court-appointed guardian, but the court may intervene if it determines the appointment is contrary to the child's best interests.

6. Review and Update: This Designation should be reviewed and updated periodically, and especially after any significant life changes (marriage, divorce, relocation, birth of additional children).

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)
• C.R.S. § 15-14-202: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_15-14-202
• C.R.S. § 15-14-204: https://colorado.public.law/statutes/crs_15-14-204
• Robinson & Henry, P.C. — Guide to Guardianships: https://www.robinsonandhenry.com/blog/probate/guardianships/

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.