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<section article="get" article_name="Estates and Trusts" number="13-702" title_number="13" title_name="Protection of Minors, Disabled Persons, Susceptible Adults, and Older Adults" subtitle_number="7">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On petition by any person interested in the welfare of the minor, and after notice and hearing as prescribed by the Maryland Rules, the court may appoint a guardian of the person of an unmarried minor if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The appointment is in the best interests of the minor;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>No testamentary appointment has been made; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>No parent is willing or able to serve as guardian of the person of the minor;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Each parent consents to the appointment of the guardian of the person; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>No parent files an objection to the appointment of the guardian of the person.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If the minor is at least 14 years old, and if the person otherwise is qualified, the court shall appoint a person designated by the minor, unless the decision is not in the best interests of the minor.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>This section may not be construed to require court appointment of a guardian of the person of a minor if there is no good reason, such as a dispute, for a court appointment.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>This subsection may not be construed to provide that the appointment of a guardian of the person of a minor requires the termination of any parental rights with respect to the minor under Title 5 of the Family Law Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Venue in proceedings under this subtitle shall be as prescribed by the Maryland Rules.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The contents of the petition and the manner of giving notice of the hearing on the petition shall be as prescribed by the Maryland Rules.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>If there is no victim’s representative who can adequately assert the minor’s rights as a victim of a crime or a delinquent act and no court has appointed a guardian ad litem to protect the minor’s interests, the rights, duties, and powers that the court may order the guardian to exercise shall include serving as a victim’s representative to assert the minor’s interests.</text>
  </level>
</section>
