Legal guardian

A legal guardian is a person who has the legal authority (and the corresponding duty) to care for the personal and property interests of another person, called a ward. Usually, a person has the status of guardian because the ward is incapable of caring for his or her own interests due to infancy, incapacity, or disability. Most countries and states have laws that provide that the parents of a minor child are the legal guardians of that child, and that the parents can designate who shall become the child's legal guardian in the event of their death.

Courts generally have the power to appoint a guardian for an individual in need of special protection. A guardian with responsibility for both the personal well-being and the financial interests of the ward is a "general guardian". A person may also be appointed as a "special guardian", having limited powers over the interests of the ward. A special guardian may, for example, be given the legal right to determine the disposition of the ward's property without being given any authority over the ward's person. A guardian appointed to represent the interests of a person with respect to a single action in litigation is a guardian "ad litem".

Some jurisdictions allow a parent of a child to exercise the authority of a legal guardian without a formal court appointment. In such circumstances the parent acting in that capacity is called the natural guardian of that parent's child.

Guardian "ad litem"

United States

Guardians "ad litem" are often appointed in divorce cases or in parenting time disputes to represent the interests of the minor children. Guardians "ad litem" are also used in other family matters involving grandparents obtaining custody or grandparenting time as well as protection orders where one parent is attempting to get an order against another party with a legal connection to the child. The kinds of people appointed as a guardian "ad litem" vary by state, ranging from volunteers to social workers to regular attorneys to others with the appropriate qualifications. The two divorcing parents are usually responsible for paying the fees of the guardian "ad litem", even though the guardian "ad litem" is not responsible to them at all. In some states, the county government pays the fee of that attorney. The guardian "ad litem"'s only job is to represent the minor children's best interests.

Guardians "ad litem" are also appointed in cases where there has been an allegation of child abuse, child neglect, PINS, juvenile delinquency, or dependency. In these situations, the guardian "ad litem" is charged to represent the best interests of the minor child which can differ from the position of the state or government agency as well as the interest of the parent or guardian. These guardians "ad litem" vary by jurisdiction and can be volunteer advocates or attorneys.

They are also appointed in guardianship cases for adults (see also conservatorship). For example, parents may start a guardianship action to become the guardians of a developmentally disabled child when the child turns 18. Or, children may need to file a guardianship action for a parent when the parent has failed to prepare a power of attorney and now has dementia.

Guardians "ad litem" can be appointed by the court to represent the interests of mentally ill or disabled persons.

United Kingdom

Guardians ad litem are employed by CAFCASS, a non-departmental public body, to represent the interests of children in cases where the child's wishes differ from those of either parent, known as a Section 9.5 case. The posts are filled by senior social workers with experience in family law proceedings.

Estates

Guardians "ad litem" are also sometimes appointed in probate matters to represent the interests of unknown or unlocated heirs to an estate.

A guardian is a fiduciary and is held to a very high standard of care in exercising his powers. If the ward owns substantial property the guardian may be required to give a surety bond to protect the ward in the event that dishonesty or incompetence on his part causes financial loss to the ward.

Depending on the jurisdiction, a legal guardian may be called a "conservator", "custodian", or curator. Many jurisdictions and the Uniform Probate Code distinguish between a "guardian" or "guardian of the person" who is an individual with authority over and fiduciary responsibilities for the physical person of the ward, and a "conservator" or "guardian of the property" of a ward who has authority over and fiduciary responsibilities for significant property (often an inheritance or personal injury settlement) belonging to the ward. Some jurisdictions provide for public guardianship programs serving incapacitated adults or children.

Situation in other countries

Germany

The German guardianship law has been completely changed in 1990. Guardianship was renamed into care-taking (Betreuung). When a person of full age who, as a result of mental disease or physical, mental or psychological handicap is incapable of managing his own affairs, a guardian can be appointed (article 1896 Civil Law). An adult guardian is responsible for personal and estate matters, as well as medical treatment. However, the ward has full capacity with all human rights like marrying, voting or making a will. Every guardian has to report annually to the guardianship court (Vormundschaftsgericht).

References

See also

* Conservatorship

External links

* [http://www.guardianship.org/ National Guardianship Association (USA)]
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/20050009.htm Mental Capacity Act 2005 (England and Wales)]
* Barry Yeomaobvb, [http://www.barryyeoman.com/articles/guardian.html Stolen Lives, "AARP: The Magazine"]
* [http://www.wa-guardianship.com/ How to Create, Manage & Terminate a Washington Guardianship --- Free Guardianship Forms & Instructions]
* [http://www.stopguardianabuse.org National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse (NASGA)] USA
* [http://www.international-guardianship.com/IGNStatisticNew.pdf Guardianship law in many countries (english/german, PDF)]
* [http://itom.fau.edu/sgalup/SGALUP/PatentOutline.pdf Integrated Guardianship Information Systems - US Patent 6 973 462 B2]
* [http://www.17th.flcourts.org/guardianship_reporting_softwar.html Free Guardianship Reporting Software]