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A guardianship is an exclusive power, so it takes away the parent's rights to make decisions for the child and gives that authority to the guardian, within the scope of the guardianship order, until the guardianship is modified or terminated. Guardianship does not terminate the parent's parental rights.

A petition for the appointment of a guardian is filed in the district court for the county in which the respondent lives. However, in the City and County of Denver, you will file in the Denver Probate Court. A petition can be filed by any person who is interested in the welfare of the respondent.

You must be at least 21 years old to be the guardian for a minor. You can ask the court to name you as the guardian, or you can ask the court to name someone else who is at least 21 years old. You can be the guardian for a minor who lives in Colorado even if you live in another state.

The court will name a guardian for an adult only if the court decides that the adult needs a guardian. The court will need to decide that the adult is not able to care for themselves or make their own decisions without help.

The duration of a guardianship will depend on several factors, including the age and health of the ward. In general, guardianships for minors come to an end when minors turn 18. For vulnerable or incapacitated adults, guardianships can last until death or until the court terminates the legal relationship.

Temporary guardianships: In effect for 6 months or less, temporary guardianships are often used when a current guardian needs to be replaced because (s)he is not promoting the ward's best interests. In these situations, the courts will name a temporary guardian.