Chap. 552.—An ACT to amend and re-enact section 2599 ; section 2600, as amended
by an act of the general assembly approved March 3, 1898, and sections 2601
and 2602 of the Code of Virginia.

Approved January 2, 1904.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
twenty-five hundred and ninety-nine; section twenty-six hundred, as
amended by an act of the general assembly approved March third, eigh-
teen hundred and ninety-eight, and sections twenty-six hundred and one
and twenty-six hundred and two of the Code of Virginia be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

§ 2599. What courts or clerks may appoint guardiane.—The circuit
or corporation court of any county or corporation, or the clerk of the
circuit court of any county or city, in which any minor resides, or, if he
be a resident out of the State, in which he has any estate, may appoint a
guardian for him, unless he have a guardian appointed as aforesaid by
his father.

§ 2600. How appoint them.—If the minor is under the age of four-
teen years, the court or clerk may nominate and appoint his guardian:
if he is above that age, he may, in the presence of the court or clerk, or
in writing acknowledged before a justice or notary public, nominate his
own guardian, who, if approved by the court or clerk, shall be appointed
accordingly; and if the guardian nominated by such minor shall not be
appointed by the court or clerk, or if the minor reside without the State.
or if, after being summoned by the court or clerk, he shall neglect to
nominate a suitable person, the court or clerk may nominate and ap-
point the guardian in the same manner as if the minor was under the
age of fourteen years.

§ 2601. Guardians to give bond; judge or clerk liable if bond not
given, and’ with good security.—Every guardian, unless, in the case of a
testamentary guardian, the will otherwise directs and the court or clerk
in such case deems it unnecessary for the safety of the ward, shall give
bond, to be approved by the court or clerk by which he is appointed or
in which he accepts the trust, in such penalty as shall be prescribed by
the court or clerk. If any court or clerk omit to require such a bond, the
judge or clerk so in default shall be liable to the ward for any damages
he may sustain thereby.

§ 2602. When court or clerk may appoint curator; his bond; powers
and duties—Until a guardian shall have given bond, or while there is
no guardian, the court or said clerk may, from time to time, appoint a
curator, who shall give bond as aforesaid, and during the continuance of
his trust have all the powers and perform all the duties of a guardian,
and be responsible in the same way.

2. This act shall be in force on and after the first day of February,
nineteen hundred and four.