legal guardian
Court-authorized protector
A legal guardian is a person appointed by a court to make decisions for someone unable to manage their own affairs—typically a minor whose parents are unavailable or an adult incapacitated by illness or disability.
The guardian assumes responsibility for the person's care, finances, or both: After her parents died, her aunt became her legal guardian.
Distinguished from a biological parent, who has guardianship by default.
Protective care or control
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- parental rightsLegal power over children
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
power of attorney · mandate · court order · statutory · petition · tribunal · family court · authorization
Supportive care-giving
- upbringingChildhood care and training
- welfareComfort and prosperity
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- supportTo uphold or sustain
guidance · safeguarding · best interests · child welfare · dependent care · special needs · healthcare decisions · supervision
Protected person; division
- minorScale with lowered third
- incapacitatedMade unable to act
- dependentRequiring outside support
- orphanChild whose parents died
foster child · adoptive · kinship · surrogate · next of kin · family member · grandparent · relative
One managing another's assets
- conservatorArtifact preservation expert
- executorAppointed estate manager
- administratorPerson who manages operations
- estateProperty and grounds
assets · financial management · accounting · prudent · liability · obligation · duty · accountability
Public cause supporter
- defenderOne who guards another
- best interestsOne's optimal benefit
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
- child protectionMeasures ensuring youth safety
vulnerable adult · abuse prevention · neglect · representation · voice · rights · shield · intervention
custody
Protective care or control
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- parental rightsLegal power over children
decision-making · power of attorney · mandate · court order · statutory · petition · tribunal · family court · authorization · appointment
nurturing
Supportive care-giving
- upbringingChildhood care and training
- welfareComfort and prosperity
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
support · guidance · safeguarding · best interests · child welfare · dependent care · special needs · healthcare decisions · supervision · maintenance
ward
Protected person; division
- minorScale with lowered third
- incapacitatedMade unable to act
- dependentRequiring outside support
orphan · foster child · adoptive · kinship · surrogate · next of kin · family member · grandparent · relative · successor
trustee
One managing another's assets
- conservatorArtifact preservation expert
- executorAppointed estate manager
- administratorPerson who manages operations
estate · assets · financial management · accounting · prudent · liability · obligation · duty · accountability · stewardship
advocate
Public cause supporter
- defenderOne who guards another
- best interestsOne's optimal benefit
- safeguardPrecaution against harm
child protection · vulnerable adult · abuse prevention · neglect · representation · voice · rights · shield · intervention · emergency
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- schoolingelementary school, school, middle school, high school, primary schools
- family rolesmother, father, mom, dad, parents
- guardiansprotector, protectors, keeper, keepers, guard
- legal professionalslawyer, attorney, barrister, solicitor, counsel
- protectorsprotector, guard, sentinel, keeper, watchdog
legal guardianward
Protected person; division
dependent · charge · minor · orphan · emancipated minor
legal guardianbirth parent
One who conceived offspring
biological parent · natural parent · biological mother · biological father · blood relative
legal, illegal, guardian, warden, custodian, legalize, legally, legalized, illegally