What is a legal guardian?
A legal guardian is someone who is appointed to take care of someone else, along with that person’s property. Most commonly, a legal guardian takes care of a minor child and looks after his or her assets, but a legal guardian may also be appointed to care for an adult who has been judged incapable, such as someone with a severe medical problem or disability. A similar concept is the conservator, someone who typically looks after assets, rather than the person and his or her property. In most cases, a legal guardian must be appointed by a court. There are some exceptions to this rule. Parents of a minor child are assumed to be the child’s guardians, unless the court has taken parenting privileges away out of concern for the child’s well-being. It is also possible for someone to designate a guardian in a will, as in the case of a single parent who specifies that an aunt will become the child’s legal guardian in the event of the parent’s death or incapacitation. People can also specify th
By definition, a legal guardian is a person appointed by the court who holds full legal responsibility for the care of an incapacitated person or minor child, and is also responsible for managing their affairs: medical, legal, financial and otherwise. Simply put in relation to a child, it is the role of a legal guardian to help protect a child, provide for their daily care, and manage any financial assets the child might have. While parents are considered the legal guardians of their children until they turn 18, there are circumstances that make it beneficial for parents of physically or mentally disabled children to petition to retain legal guardianship once those children turn 18. Disabled or not, once a child turns 18, they are held legally responsible for all of their actions. They can enter into contracts, sign purchase agreements, and be held accountable for any expenses incurred. Petitioning to remain the legal guardian of disabled children protects them from individuals wishing
