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DE-350Mandatory

Petition for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem—Probate

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2024

This form is used to ask the court to appoint an adult to act as a Guardian Ad Litem. This person's job is to represent the best interests of a child in a probate case.

The court describes it as: Ask the court to appoint an adult to represent the best interests of a child to the court in a probate case.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used in probate cases when someone needs to ask the court to appoint a representative for a minor or someone who cannot make their own decisions.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who must file this form?
The petitioner can be a personal representative, a guardian, a conservator, a trustee, or another interested person.
What is a Guardian Ad Litem?
A Guardian Ad Litem is an adult appointed to represent the best interests of a child in a probate case. This role is different from a guardian of the person or estate.
Does the proposed Guardian Ad Litem need to be an attorney?
Yes, the text notes that a guardian ad litem must be an attorney or be represented by an attorney.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2024.

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