In the Matter of the Guardianship and Conservatorship of Thomas Lankford: Maureen Utley and Norma Ballweg v. Thomas Lankford and Elaine Hanks

HILL, Justice.

[T1] Maureen Utley (Utley) and Norma Ballweg (Ballweg) (collectively Petitioners) petitioned to be appointed permanent guardians of their elderly uncle, Thomas Lankford. The district court dismissed the guardianship petition after finding Petitioners were not qualified to serve as guardians because their potential to inherit from Lankford created a disqualifying conflict of interest. On appeal, Petitioners contend that the district court erred in finding a conflict of interest. In the alternative, they assert that the guardianship conflict waiver statute, which allows a court to…