Posts in April 6, 2023

In many locations, minors who 14 years of age and over and needed a legal guardian could nominate one to the court. The nomination would have to be approved by the court and contemporary state statue would have dictated the legal requirements for being a guardian–generally that’s someone of the age of majority at the time, of sound mind, and generally perceived to be responsible by the court. Contemporary state statute would also dictate the age at which someone was a legal adult–for much of US history that’s been 18 for a female and 21 for a male. Many state statutes are available digitally online and a search for them can be started in this list of links at the Advancing Genealogist. Do not assume both parents were […]