An Act to assure to the widow or widower and family of a testator an adequate maintenance from the estate of such testator; to amend the law relating to the guardianship of infants; and for purposes incidental thereto or consequent thereon.
Part 1 Preliminary
pt 1, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.106 [2].
1 Name of Act
This Act may be cited as the Guardianship of Infants Act 1916.s 1: Am 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [1].
1A Application of Act
This Act does not apply in respect of the estate of any deceased person in relation to whom Chapter 3 of the Succession Act 2006 applies.s 1A: Ins 1982 No 161, Sch 1 (1). Am 2008 No 75, Sch 2.15.
2 Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:Court means:(a) the Supreme Court, in relation to any matter (including a matter referred to in paragraph (b)), or(b) the District Court, in relation to a matter for which it has jurisdiction under section 134 of the District Court Act 1973.Executor includes administrator with the will annexed.Minor means a person under the age of eighteen years.s 2: Am 1970 No 60, First Sch; 1997 No 141, Sch 1.12.
Part 2
3–12 (Repealed)
pt 2, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.106 [3]. Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
pt 2: Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 3: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (a); 1954 No 40, sec 4 (1) (a); 1982 No 161, Sch 1 (2). Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 4: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (b); 1954 No 40, sec 4 (1) (b). Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 5: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (c); 1954 No 40, sec 4 (1) (c); 1970 No 60, First Sch. Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 6: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (d). Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 6A: Ins 1982 No 161, Sch 1 (3). Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 7: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (e). Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 8: Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 9: Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 10: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (f). Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 11: Am 1938 No 30, sec 9 (g). Subst 1977 No 121, sec 3. Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
s 12: Rep 2009 No 29, Sch 2.6 [2].
Part 3 Guardianship of minors
pt 3, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.106 [4].
13 Rights of surviving parent as to guardianship
s 13, hdg before: Am 1970 No 60, First Sch. Rep 1999 No 31, Sch 5.106 [1].(1) On the death of the father of a minor, the mother, if surviving, shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be guardian of the minor, either alone or jointly with any guardian appointed by the father.Where no guardian has been appointed by the father, or if the guardian or guardians appointed by the father is or are dead or refuses or refuse to act, the court may, if it thinks fit, appoint a guardian to act jointly with the mother.(2) On the death of the mother of a minor, the father, if surviving, shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be guardian of the minor, either alone or jointly, with any guardian appointed by the mother.Where no guardian has been appointed by the mother, or if the guardian or guardians appointed by the mother is or are dead or refuses or refuse to act, the court may, if it thinks fit, appoint a guardian to act jointly with the father.s 13: Subst 1934 No 20, sec 5 (1) (a). Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.
14 Power of mother and father to appoint guardians
(1) The father of a minor may by deed or will appoint any person to be guardian of the minor after his death.(2) The mother of a minor may by deed or will appoint any person to be guardian of the minor after her death.(3) Any guardian so appointed shall act jointly with the mother or father, as the case may be, of the minor so long as the mother or father remains alive, unless the mother or father objects to his so acting.(4) If the mother or father so objects, or if the guardian so appointed considers that the mother or father is unfit to have the custody of the minor, the guardian may apply to the court.The court may either refuse to make an order (in which case the mother or father shall remain sole guardian) or make an order that the guardian so appointed shall act jointly with the mother or father, or that he shall be sole guardian of the minor.Where the court makes an order that the guardian so appointed shall be the sole guardian of the minor, the court may make such order regarding the custody of the minor and the right of access thereto of its mother or father as, having regard to the welfare of the minor, the court may think fit, and may further order that the mother or father shall pay to the guardian towards the maintenance and education of the minor such weekly or other periodical sum as, having regard to the means of the mother or father, the court may consider reasonable.The powers conferred by this subsection may be exercised at any time and shall include power to vary or discharge any order previously made in virtue of those powers.(5) Where guardians are appointed by both parents, the guardians so appointed shall, after the death of the surviving parent, act jointly.(6) If under the preceding section a guardian has been appointed by the court to act jointly with a surviving parent, he shall continue to act as guardian after the death of the surviving parent; but if the surviving parent has appointed a guardian, the guardian appointed by the court shall act jointly with the guardian appointed by the surviving parent.s 14: Subst 1934 No 20, sec 5 (1) (a). Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.
15, 16 (Repealed)
s 15: Rep 1934 No 20, sec 5 (1) (a).
s 16: Rep 1934 No 20, sec 5 (1) (a).
17 Guardians may apply to court for directions
(1) In the event of guardians being unable to agree upon a question affecting the welfare of a minor, any of them may apply to the court for its direction, and the court may make such order regarding the matters in difference as it may think proper.(2) The power conferred by the foregoing provisions of this section shall include power to vary or discharge any order made under this section or made by any court under the Infants’ Custody and Settlements Act 1899–1934 and, where one of the guardians is the mother or father of a minor, shall also include power:(a) to make such orders regarding the custody of a minor and the right of access thereto as, having regard to the welfare of a minor, the court may think fit, and(b) to order the mother or father to pay towards the maintenance or education of a minor such weekly or other periodical sum as, having regard to the means of the mother or father, the court may consider reasonable.s 17: Am 1934 No 20, sec 5 (1) (b); 1970 No 60, First Sch.
18 Power of court to remove guardian
The court may, in its discretion, on being satisfied that it is for the welfare of the minor, remove from his office any testamentary guardian, or any guardian appointed or acting by virtue of this Act, and may also, if the court shall deem it to be for the welfare of the minor, appoint another guardian in place of the guardian so removed.The powers of the court under this section extend to the removal of either parent from guardianship under this Act.s 18: Am 1934 No 20, sec 6 (1); 1970 No 60, First Sch.
19 Powers of guardians
Every guardian under this Act shall have all such powers over the estate and the person, or over the estate (as the case may be) of a minor, as any guardian appointed by will or otherwise now has.s 19: Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.
20 Savings
Subject to section 20A, this Act does not restrict or affect the jurisdiction of the court to appoint or remove guardians in respect of infants.s 20: Subst 1970 No 60, First Sch.
20A Guardianship to end at 18 years
(1) Guardianship of the person or of the estate of a minor, whether under an appointment by the court or otherwise, shall cease upon the minor reaching the age of eighteen years.(2) Where a minor has been made a ward of court, the wardship shall not continue after he reaches the age of eighteen years.(3) A guardian shall not be appointed, by the court or otherwise, of the person or of the estate of a person who has reached the age of eighteen years.(4) The court shall not make a person aged eighteen years or upwards a ward of court.s 20A: Ins 1970 No 60, First Sch.
21 Court may order access by grandparents
In the event of the death before or after the passing of this Act of the parents or of one of the parents of a minor the court may order that the maternal or paternal grandparents of the minor or any one of them shall have access to the minor at such times and places as the court shall deem proper:Provided that applications under this section shall be heard in camera.s 21: Am 1970 No 60, First Sch.
Part 4 General
pt 4, hdg: Ins 1999 No 31, Sch 5.106 [5].
22 Rules
The court may make rules for regulating the practice and procedure in any applications and proceedings under this Act, and prescribe the forms in such proceedings.Any application under this Act shall be made in accordance with such rules.Until such rules are made, any application under this Act shall be by motion, and the practice of the Equity Court shall apply thereto.