what is a legal guardian

A legal guardian is a person who has been appointed by a court or otherwise has the legal authority to make decisions relevant to the personal and property interests of another person who is deemed incompetent, called a ward. Legal guardianship is assigned by a court, such as a family court, according to state laws. A legal guardian can be appointed for a child or an adult who is deemed incompetent and unable to care for themselves. Legal guardianship allows the guardian to make decisions concerning the wards protection, education, care, discipline, and other personal and financial matters. The guardian is held to a very high standard of care in exercising their powers and is a fiduciary. Any competent adult can be named as a legal guardian, and they must be 18 or over and able to prove they can offer appropriate care for a ward and make good decisions on the ward’s behalf. Depending on the jurisdiction, a legal guardian may be called a "conservator", "tutor", "custodian", or curator.