Guardian in Legal Definition

Guardians may be appointed in cases of adult guardianship (see also curatorship). For example, parents may take a guardianship measure to become guardians of a child with a developmental disability when the child is of legal age. The courts generally have the power to appoint a guardian for a person who is in need of special protection. A guardian who is responsible for both the personal well-being and financial interests of the community is a general guardian. A person may also be appointed as a special guardian who has limited authority over the interests of the ward. For example, a special guardian may have the legal right to decide on the disposition of the ward`s property without having authority over the person of the ward. A guardianship is similar to a power of attorney in that both empower an officer to make legal, financial, and/or medical decisions for another person. However, there are important differences. A person can choose who to grant a power of attorney to and under what circumstances, while a guardian is appointed by the court and they cannot have a say in the guardianship. Legal guardianship is assigned by a court, such as family court, under state law. For parents or guardians involved in guardianship cases, it may be helpful to consult and/or hire a lawyer working in the area of family law. If you need help finding a lawyer, the American Bar Association (ABA) website offers a variety of services for the general public, including the Find Legal Help website, which includes pro bono lawyer referrals and links to court resources.

The ABA provides a section called Free Legal Answers for submitting questions on civil law issues. A directory of law schools that offer pro bono programs is also available on the ABA website. The parent of a minor child is the child`s natural guardian. [8] Guardians represent their wards in all legal acts, unless the interests of the wards conflict with those of the guardian. For example, this power allows guardians to accept or reject settlements and decide whether or not to make a claim. In addition, guardianship can also be a permanent option for a child who has been placed outside the home, as it creates a legal relationship between a child and a caregiver that is supposed to be permanent and autonomous and can provide the child with a permanent family without the need to terminate the parents` parental rights. The child is able to maintain family ties while gaining the stability of a permanent home with a related caregiver who is committed to caring for the child. Child Welfare Information Gateway, a department of the Children`s Bureau, provides summaries of state laws on its website.

Consider kinship guardianship as a permanent option. Guardianship of an older person with a disability usually occurs when a person discovers that an older person is no longer able to care for themselves or their property. In some cases, there may be a perception that the older person is being financially exploited or is about to be exploited. In other cases, the person may not be able to take care of themselves and may not be able to properly perform activities of daily living without assistance. Typically, there is a triggering incident that prompts a professional, family member, health care worker or cleric to initiate guardianship proceedings. A 2010 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office examined 20 closed cases in which guardians stole or illegally acquired clients` property. In 6 of these 20 cases, the courts did not adequately select guardians in advance and did not appoint persons with criminal convictions or significant financial problems, and in 12 out of 20 cases, the courts did not supervise guardians once they had been appointed. [4] [5] In 2006, a legal status of «special guardianship» was introduced (using the powers conferred by the Adoption and Children Act 2002) to allow a person with rights similar to those of a traditional legal guardian, but without absolute legal separation from the child`s biological parents. [13] These should not be confused with court-appointed special guardians in other jurisdictions.