Guam § 1817 - Facts to be Proved at Hearing on Petition for Letters of

§ 1817. Facts to be Proved at Hearing on Petition for Letters of

Administration; Compelling Witnesses' Attendance; Contest of

Petition; Grounds Counterpetition; Notice; Combined Hearings.

(a) Before letters of administration are granted in the first instance,

the fact of death and that the decedent died intestate, and that due notice

of the hearing has been given pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1815

and 3401 of this Title, must be proved by the evidence of the petitioner

or others; and the Superior Court of Guam may also examine any other

person concerning the time, place and manner of death, the place of

decedent's residence at the time of death, the character and value of the

decedent's property, and whether or not the decedent left any will; and

the Superior Court of Guam may compel any person to attend as a

witness for those purposes.

(b) Any person interested in the estate may, at any time prior to the

hearing provided in Section 1813 of this Title, oppose a petition for the

grant of letters of administration by filing in the Superior Court of Guam

written grounds of opposition thereto, challenging the competency of the

petitioner or the petitioner's right to letters of administration, or such

person may assert his own right to letters of administration. In the latter

case, he must file a petition and the notice required for an original

petition (as provided in Sections 1815 and 3401 of this Title) must be

given, and the Superior Court of Guam must hear the two petitions

together.