NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN FOR MINOR CHILDREN
(Standalone Inter Vivos Declaration - Not a Will)
KENTUCKY (KRS 387.025 and KRS 387.032)

Name: Rachel Marie Combs
Address: 88 Dogwood Trail, Bowling Green, KY 42101
Telephone: (270) 555-0188
Email: rachel@example.com

I, Rachel Marie Combs, am an adult and a parent of the minor child or children named in this declaration. I make this standalone, inter vivos nomination of a guardian for my minor children voluntarily. This declaration is separate from any will. It records, in writing, who I want the court to appoint as guardian of my minor children if I die or become unable to care for them.

A co-parent of my minor children, Daniel Combs, is living. I understand and acknowledge that a living parent whose parental rights have not been terminated or suspended by prior court order (KRS 387.010(7)) generally has priority over this nomination. This nomination is intended to take effect when neither parent is available to care for my children - because each is deceased, incapacitated, or no longer holds parental rights.

This nomination covers the following minor children, each under eighteen (18) years of age:

1. Ella Rose Combs (DOB 2018-04-02)
2. Mason Combs (DOB 2021-09-15)

This declaration applies only to my children who are minors when guardianship becomes necessary. It does not apply to adult children; guardianship for a disabled adult requires a separate court proceeding under KRS Chapter 387.

I nominate Laura Bennett, of 210 Cherokee Road, Bowling Green, KY 42103 (telephone: (270) 555-0123; relationship to my children: sister of the nominating parent), for appointment by the District Court as guardian of my minor children if I die or become unable to care for them and no parent with parental rights is available to do so.

I ask any court considering the guardianship of my children to give this nomination the consideration the law allows.

If Laura Bennett is unable or unwilling to serve, I nominate Thomas Bennett (relationship to my children: brother-in-law of the nominating parent), as alternate guardian, and I ask the court to give this alternate nomination the same consideration as my primary nomination.

This nomination is not legally binding on the court. The person I nominate receives no authority from this declaration itself. When guardianship of my children becomes necessary, an interested person or entity (including the person nominated above) files an application for appointment under KRS 387.025, and the District Court decides who serves. Under KRS 387.032, the District Court appoints the person or entity whose appointment would be in the best interest of the minor, taking into consideration the ability of the person or entity to manage and preserve the estate of the minor, and taking into consideration any nomination made by will under KRS 387.040 or by a minor fourteen (14) years of age or older under KRS 387.050.

This declaration is not a nomination by will under KRS 387.040, and it is not a nomination by a minor under KRS 387.050. It is a written expression of my wishes as a parent, made during my lifetime, for the court to weigh as evidence of my preference when it determines what is in the best interest of my children. A guardian for my children can be appointed only by the court, through the process described above.

If the court appoints a guardian for my children, Kentucky law defines the role. In plain language: under KRS 387.065, a guardian has the powers and responsibilities of a parent regarding the support, care, and education of the ward; takes custody of the ward and establishes the place where the ward lives within the Commonwealth; may consent to medical or other professional care for the ward; and may receive money payable for the support of the ward. Under KRS 387.125, a guardian who manages the financial resources of the ward must apply them to the support, care, and education of the ward, take possession of the property of the ward, invest funds not required for current needs, and account to the court. These powers and duties come from the appointment order and the statutes - not from this declaration.

It is my wish that the same person nominated above, Laura Bennett, also be considered for appointment to manage the financial resources of my children (guardianship of the estate). A court-appointed guardian who manages the financial resources of the ward has the powers stated in KRS 387.065 - including receiving money payable for the support of the ward - and the duties as to use of the assets of the ward stated in KRS 387.125.

The following statements express my reasons for this nomination and my wishes for the care of my children. They are guidance only - they do not bind the court or any guardian - but I intend them to be considered:

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I sign this nomination voluntarily. I understand that it is a statement of my wishes, that it does not by itself make anyone the guardian of my children, and that I may revoke or replace it at any time during my lifetime by signing a new declaration.

Signed this ___________ day of ___________________, 20___.

Signature of Declarant: ____________________________________________
Printed name: Rachel Marie Combs
Address: 88 Dogwood Trail, Bowling Green, KY 42101

KRS Chapter 387 does not prescribe an execution formality for a standalone parental nomination of a guardian. The witness attestation and the notary acknowledgment below are included as a best practice to strengthen the evidentiary weight of this declaration; they are not required by KRS Chapter 387.

In our joint presence, the declarant, who is an adult and appeared to us to be of sound mind, voluntarily signed this nomination or directed it to be signed, and we now sign as witnesses in the presence of the declarant and of each other.

Witness 1 Signature: ____________________________________________
Witness 1 Printed name and address: ____________________________________________

Witness 2 Signature: ____________________________________________
Witness 2 Printed name and address: ____________________________________________

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY)
COUNTY OF ____________________)

Before me, the undersigned authority, on this ___________ day of ___________________, 20___, personally appeared Rachel Marie Combs, known to me (or satisfactorily proven) to be the person whose name is subscribed to this declaration, and acknowledged signing it voluntarily for the purposes stated in it.

Signature of Notary Public: ____________________________________________
My commission expires: _________________________

(Seal, if any)

Document prepared by:
Johnson Legal PLLC, operating as Bluegrass Cornerstone (registered Kentucky DBA)
Attorney of record: Durward Elton Johnson, Kentucky Bar # 101547. Prepared from parent input as a standalone inter vivos nomination of a guardian for minor children, for consideration by the District Court under KRS 387.025 and KRS 387.032; reviewed and approved by a Kentucky-licensed attorney before delivery per KBA Ethics Opinion E-457.