- (a) The court may appoint a guardian for an unmarried minor if all parental rights have been terminated or suspended by circumstances or prior order of a court having jurisdiction; unless a custodian has been appointed under Section 26-18-8, or otherwise by the juvenile court when parental rights have been terminated or suspended. A guardian appointed pursuant to Section 26-2A-71 whose appointment has not been prevented or nullified under Section 26-2A-72 has priority over any guardian who may be appointed by the court, but the court may proceed with another appointment upon a finding that the parental nominee has failed to accept the appointment within 30 days after notice of the guardianship proceeding.
- (b) If necessary, and on appropriate petition or application, the court may appoint a temporary guardian who shall have the full authority of a general guardian of a minor, but the authority of a temporary guardian may not last longer than six months. The appointment of a temporary guardian for a minor may occur even though the conditions described in subsection (a) have not been established.
(Acts 1987, No. 87-590, p. 975, §2-104; Acts 1988, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 88-898, p. 455, §1.)