Well I would like the answer to just the reverse. Why would a father of the children have to get guardianship after the death of the mother? Does this mean he wasn't really their father? Ronda ----- Original Message ----- From: Lanita Sconce Miller Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 7:06 PM To: MO-OREGON-HISTORY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MO-OREGON-HISTORY] Topic of discussion: Guardianship Okay, you guys! I've got a topic for you... Any idea why a Guardian was appointed after father's death when the mother was living and the kids were in her household? The year was 1867, and the mother was 48, the 3 children were 18 [boy], 13 [girl] and 10 [boy].... I've just learned about the guardianship papers and am intrigued why a guardianship was appointed when the mother was in good health and living in same household with the children... Is this a case of the woman being invisible with no rights? Lanita..