The purpose of this Article is to provide for voluntary severance of the parent-child relationship and for substitution of parental care and supervision by judicial process which will safeguard the rights and interests of all parties concerned and promote their welfare and that of Guam. Implicit in this Article is the philosophy that wherever possible family life should be strengthened and preserved and that the issue of severing the parent-child relationship is of such vital importance as to require a judicial determination in place of attempts as severance by contractual arrangements, express or implied, for the surrender or relinquishment of children. This judicial action is intended primarily for those situations where other judicial remedies appear inappropriate.

SOURCE: CC § 231.1 enacted by P.L. 13-133:2 (Feb. 3, 1976).

2022 NOTE: Reference to “”Territory”” removed pursuant to 1 Guam Code Ann. § 420.