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Guardianship Overview

A legal guardian is an adult who is chosen by a court or a dependent's will to make decisions on behalf of an individual who cannot make decisions for him or herself, usually a minor but sometimes an adult with special needs. Parents may even establish guardianship over their child’s estate in some instances, particularly when a minor comes into a large amount of money. In fact, an adult relative or family friend, a child-protective agency, or if the child is over a certain age, the infant (child), can petition the court to be appointed as the guardian or standby guardian of a child. The Guardianship Overview section includes articles covering the basics of guardianship, the types of decisions a guardian typically makes, common reasons for the appointment of guardians, the process of establishing guardianship, the difference between testamentary and temporary guardianship, and more.

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