In a message dated 1/28/99 7:05:34 PM Central Standard Time, jimgoad@hpe.infi.net writes: << > I have noticed in these court papers the assignment of guardians for > children of deceased parents, even when one parent is still alive > (especially if it is the mother who has survived). Was a guardian always > assigned in the case of the children where one or both parents were > deceased. It appears to me that the guardian bonds were quite high > ($250-500), and that suggests to me that this was done only in the case > of wealthy children, or children from wealthy families at least. >> I BELIEVE THAT GUARDIANS WERE ASSIGNED TO ASSURE THAT THE ESTATE OF AN INHERITING UNDERAGED PERSON WAS PROTECTED. HENCE, THE BOND. QUITE OFTEN THE GUARDIANS WERE FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT HAD TO MAKE REGULAR REPORTS TO THE COURT OF ANY DISBURSALS OUT OF THE ESTATE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILD. AT AGE 14 THE CHILD COULD PICK HIS/HER OWN GUARDIAN, PRIOR TO THAT TIME THEY WERE ASSIGNED BY THE COURT. KAY G. KLWRAGEG@aol.com