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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>349779</law_id><section_number>16.1-351</section_number><catch_line>Court order approving standby guardianship; authority; when effective</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-349</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="48" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="12" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="19" identifier="17">Standby Guardianship</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Upon consideration of the factors set out in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Best interests of the child; visitation" href="/20-124.3/">20-124.3</a> and <span class="dictionary">finding</span> that (i) the child&#x2019;s parent is a qualified parent and (ii) appointment of a standby guardian is in the best interest of the child, <span class="dictionary">the court</span> shall appoint a proper and suitable person as standby guardian and, if requested, a proper and suitable person as alternate standby guardian. However, when a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> is filed by a person other than a parent having <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child, the standby guardian shall be appointed only with the consent of the qualified parent unless <span class="dictionary">the court</span> finds that such consent cannot be given for medical reasons.</p><p>The <span class="dictionary">order</span> shall specify the triggering event and shall provide that the authority of the standby guardian is effective (a) upon receipt by the standby guardian of (1) a determination of incompetence of the parent, (2) a certificate of death of the parent, (3) <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the detention, incarceration, or deportation of the parent connected to an immigration action, or (4) the earlier of clause (1), (2), or (3) or (b) if so requested in the <span class="dictionary">petition</span>, upon receipt by the standby guardian of a written consent of the qualified parent and filing of the consent with <span class="dictionary">the court</span>. The written consent shall be executed after the entry of <span class="dictionary">the court</span> <span class="dictionary">order</span> and signed by the qualified parent, or by another in his presence and on his behalf.</p><p>As soon as practicable after entry of the <span class="dictionary">order</span>, a copy shall be served on the standby guardian.</p><p>A standby guardian shall have the powers and duties of a guardian of the person and a guardian of the property of a <span class="dictionary">minor</span>, unless otherwise specified in the <span class="dictionary">order</span>.</p><p>The standby guardian shall file with <span class="dictionary">the court</span>, as soon as practicable but in no event later than 30 days following a parent&#x2019;s death, determination of incompetence, consent, or detention, incarceration, or deportation connected to an immigration action, a copy of the certificate of death, determination of incompetence, consent, or <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of such detention, incarceration, or deportation of the qualified parent upon which his authority is based. Failure to file within the time specified shall be grounds for <span class="dictionary">the court</span> to rescind the authority of the standby guardian <span class="dictionary">sua sponte</span> or upon <span class="dictionary">petition</span> of any person but all acts undertaken by the standby guardian on behalf of and in the interests of the child shall be valid and enforceable.</p></section></text><history>1998, c. 829; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 241.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
