ENROLLED
Senate Bill No. 483
(By Senators Kessler, Dempsey, Fanning, Foster, Minard, Oliverio, White, Barnes, Caruth, Deem, Harrison, Lanham and Weeks)
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[Passed March 11, 2006; in effect from passage.]
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AN ACT to amend and reenact §44-10-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to confidentiality of circuit court records involving guardianship of minors.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §44-10-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 10. GUARDIANS AND WARDS GENERALLY.

§44-10-3. Appointment and revocation of guardian by county commission.

(a) The circuit court or family court of the county in which the minor resides, or if the minor is a nonresident of the state, the county in which the minor has an estate, may appoint as the minor's guardian a suitable person. The father or mother shall receive priority. However, in every case, the competency and fitness of the proposed guardian and the welfare and best interests of the minor shall be given precedence by the court when appointing the guardian.

(b) Within five days of the filing of a petition for the appointment of a guardian, the circuit clerk shall notify the court. The court shall hear the petition for the appointment of a guardian within ten days after the petition is filed.

(1) The minor reaches the age of eighteen and executes a release stating that the guardian estate was properly administered and that the minor has received the assets of the estate from the guardian;

(2) The guardian or the minor dies;

(3) The guardian petitions the court to resign and the court enters an order approving the resignation; or

(4) A petition is filed by the guardian, the minor, an interested person or upon the motion of the court stating that the minor is no longer in need of the assistance or protection of a guardian.

(d) A guardianship may not be terminated by the court if there are any assets in the estate due and payable to the minor: Provided, That another guardian may be appointed upon the resignation of a guardian whenever there are assets in the estate due and payable to the minor.

(e) Records of a guardian proceeding involving a minor are confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone who is not a party to the proceeding, counsel of record for the proceeding or presiding over the proceeding, absent a court order permitting examination of such records.