GENERAL PROVISIONS

     §551-1  Jurisdiction.  Family courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to appoint guardians for minors, and circuit courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction to appoint conservators for both adults and minors.  The family and circuit courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction over guardianships for incapacitated adults.  Either a guardian or conservator, or both, may be appointed. [CC 1859, §1343; am L 1903, c 16, §1; RL 1925, §3064; am L 1925, c 42, §1; RL 1935, §4850; RL 1945, §12500; RL 1955, §338-1; HRS §551-1; am L 1972, c 145, §1(e); am L 1976, c 200, pt of §1; am L 2004, c 161, §16]

Cross References

  Jurisdiction to appoint guardian:  Minors, see §571-11; adults, see §571-14.

  Jurisdiction of circuit court, see §§603-21.6, 603-36.

Case Notes

  Powers, inherent powers of a court of chancery.  See 13 H. 257, 262 (1901); 26 H. 337, 340-41 (1922).

  Jurisdiction at chambers.  See 16 H. 13, 15 (1904); 16 H. 242 (1904), aff'd 197 U.S. 348 (1905); 16 H. 412 (1905).

  Under this section, even before family court constituted, court could appoint guardian of person or estate without appointing both, whether for a minor, insane person or spendthrift.  34 H. 935, 941 (1939).