What is Guardianship?
A court-appointed arrangement where one person (guardian) is given legal authority to make decisions for another person (ward) who cannot care for themselves.
Understanding Guardianship
Guardianship may cover personal care (guardian of the person) and/or financial matters (conservator or guardian of the estate). It requires proving incapacity and is often used for minors without parents, elderly individuals with dementia, or disabled adults.
Examples
- 1Guardianship of minor child after parents' death
- 2Adult guardianship for person with Alzheimer's
- 3Limited guardianship preserving some autonomy
Related Terms
Will
A legal document that expresses a person's wishes about how their property should be distributed after death and who should care for minor children.
Trust
A legal arrangement where one party (trustee) holds and manages property for the benefit of another (beneficiary) according to the terms set by the creator (grantor).
Probate
The court-supervised process of proving a will's validity, paying debts, and distributing a deceased person's assets to beneficiaries or heirs.
Power of Attorney
A legal document authorizing someone (the agent) to act on another person's (the principal's) behalf in financial, legal, or medical matters.
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