An adult who has been given long-term or temporary legal responsibility for a minor (called a ward), acting in place of the biological parents, though not necessarily having day-to-day custody and care of the child. Foster parents are often appointed guardians to the children in their care. In some circumstances, as in legal proceedings about child abuse and neglect or custody, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to represent the child’s interests during the case. A guardian may also be appointed for adults who have been judged legally incompetent or handicapped adults unable to care for themselves; in such cases, the guardian is sometimes called a conservator,
An adult who has been given long-term or temporary legal responsibility for a minor (called a ward), acting in place of the biological parents, though not necessarily having day-to-day custody and care of the child. Foster parents are often appointed guardians to the children in their care. In some circumstances, as in legal proceedings about child abuse and neglect or custody, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to represent the child’s interests during the case. A guardian may also be appointed for adults who have been judged legally incompetent or handicapped adults unable to care for themselves; in such cases, the guardian is sometimes called a conservator.
A person who has the legal responsibility, and the authority to make decisions, for an incompetent person or a minor. A guardian is appointed by a court. Sometimes the guardian will only make decisions about money and property management (in this case the guardian is usually called a “conservator”), and the protected person may still make personal decisions. In other cases, a guardian of the person is appointed to make personal decisions, such as those regarding health care. Some guardians have the authority to make both personal and property-management decisions. The written guardianship order specifically states the authority of the guardian.