{"id":351854,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:06","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/guardianship.html"},"modified":"2025-02-21T10:40:00","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T15:40:00","slug":"guardianship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/guardianship.html","title":{"rendered":"Legal Guardianship: Laws & Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n Legal Guardianship: Laws & Rights\n <\/h1>\n \n A guardianship is a legal relationship established by the courts to allow someone (a guardian) to make decisions on behalf of another (a ward).\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n By Melissa McCall, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aisha Success, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

A guardianship is a legal relationship created to protect an incapacitated person who cannot make decisions on their own. Their inability to make decisions is due to their incapacity. An incapacity might include developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, mental illness, or age (when a child is under 18).<\/p>\n

This section provides basic information, links to legal forms, information on important documents, and FAQs regarding legal guardianship. You can learn when a guardian may be necessary and the process of appointing a guardian. It is also important to know the differences between guardianship of a child and an incapacitated person.<\/p>\n

Use the menus below to navigate to the most relevant topic, or keep scrolling to read more about guardianship.<\/p>\n\n\n \n \n \n \n Guardianship Overview\n \n <\/i>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n <\/h2>\n \n