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Court grants temporary guardianship of estate to son to permit hiring counsel; $75,000 surety bond ordered
Summary
The court granted Ryan Woodson temporary guardianship of his father Brian Fred Woodson’s estate to allow hiring counsel for pending Nevada litigation, admitted a physician's certificate showing total incapacity, and set a $75,000 surety bond; parties clarified the statutory 60-day expiration for temporary orders.
The Chambers County Probate Court granted a temporary guardianship of the estate for Brian Fred Woodson to his son, Ryan Woodson, after admitting a physician’s certificate finding the proposed ward totally incapacitated.
Suzanne Perry, counsel for the petitioner, moved to admit the physician certificate of medical examination (filed 06/30/2026; exam signed 06/11/2026) as Exhibit 1 and the court admitted it without objection. Ryan Woodson, appearing remotely, described his father’s medical history, including cirrhosis, a liver transplant and ongoing cognitive decline. "He's about the same. He's good hours, bad hours at this point," Ryan said when asked about his father's condition.
Ryan told the court that his father cannot manage finances, is unable to hire legal counsel, and that litigation pending in Nevada posed an "imminent danger to [his] father's estate." Counsel asked the court to allow the temporary guardian to hire counsel and take steps to protect the estate. The attorney representing the proposed ward said the ward would not be able to participate meaningfully in court and agreed Ryan would be an appropriate choice if guardianship were needed.
After discussion about an appropriate bond and the scope of temporary powers, the court set a surety bond of $75,000 and approved the temporary garnishment to the state necessary to secure the guardian’s authority to act for the estate. The bench and counsel also clarified that, by statute, the temporary guardianship expires in 60 days even if the order does not show an expiration date. The court closed the matter after entering the temporary order on the record.
Ryan gave a rough value for one primary asset: a joint checking account the parties estimated at approximately $125,000, with the proposed ward’s share about $62,500. The order requires bond and accounting to the court before any expenditures on behalf of the estate.
