Guardianship is a legal process used to protect individuals who are unable to care for their own well-being due to infancy, incapacity or disability. When the Ward, or person that requires a legal guardian to care for them, is in need of special protection, the court will appoint a legal guardian to take care of them. Legal guardians have the legal authority to make decisions for their ward and represent their ward’s personal and financial interests.
According to Justia:
Guardianship of a Minor
“Courts may appoint an adult guardian to care for a minor, who is not the child of the adult. Courts assign guardianships in a number of situations, including when parents have abandoned a minor, when a minor’s parents have died, or when a minor’s parents are incapable of providing proper care for the minor. A legal guardian may be a friend, family member, or other person the court feels will act in the minor’s best interest. As the minor’s legal guardian, an adult may be granted physical custody of the minor, or they may act as a financial guardian who exercises control over the minor’s property. In limited cases, an adult may be appointed by the court to serve as a guardian ad litem.
Guardianship of the person. An adult with legal custody of a minor has the responsibility to provide for the minor’s physical and personal needs. While the minor’s parents are legally required to continue financial support of the minor, the legal guardian must ensure that the minor receives food, shelter, clothing, education and medical care. The legal guardian has the right to consent for the minor and make all decisions regarding the minor’s health and education. A legal guardian will maintain custody of the minor until the minor reaches the age of eighteen, or until a judge determines that the minor no longer needs a guardian.
Guardianship of the estate. If a minor has a substantial amount of money or property, the court may appoint a financial guardian, or guardian of the estate, to manage and protect the minor’s assets. A guardian of the estate must make all financial decisions for the minor until the minor reaches the legal age or until the minor’s assets are depleted.
Guardian ad litem. A court appoints a guardian ad litem to represent a minor’s interests in a legal proceeding. Guardians ad litem are typically appointed in divorce cases, probate matters or in situations where the minor has been abused or neglected.”
How to Establish a Guardianship of a Minor
“A court will establish a guardianship only if it is in the best interests of the child. This will involve factors such as stability in the child’s upbringing, the child’s stated preference, the ability of the proposed guardian to provide the child with proper care, the relationship between the parents and the proposed guardian, and any information regarding the moral character of the proposed guardian. Parents who foresee obstacles in appointing a certain person as a guardian might consider writing a letter of explanation to the court in support of their choice.
A hearing is usually required to review reports by a court investigator that are based on interviews with the child, the parents, and the prospective guardian, who must be an adult. You may want to name an alternate guardian in case your first choice is not approved. If the parents disagree on who should serve as a guardian, the judge will choose between their suggestions based on the child’s best interests.
More than one adult can serve as the guardians of a child simultaneously. Before taking this step, it is important to consider the possibility of disagreements between the guardians affecting your child’s future. In some cases, however, it may make sense if one adult is better able to provide the emotional support that a child needs, for example, while another is better at managing finances. Different children in the same family can have different guardians, which may be a good option if they have formed attachments to certain adults already.”
