wardship

Guardian's protective authority

Wardship is the state of being a ward—a minor or incapacitated person under the legal protection of a guardian or court.

The term also refers to the guardianship itself: The court granted wardship to the child's aunt.

In feudal law, wardship was a lord's right to control a minor heir's lands and arrange their marriage.

legal

custody

Protective care or control

conservatorshipCourt-appointed care management
tutelageGuided instruction, oversight
fosterageRearing another's child

guardian · minor · court · jurisdiction · tribunal · appointment · termination · petition · decree · statutory

protection

safeguarding

Preventing harm or loss

careAttentive regard for others
chargeCost or accusation
keepingHolding in custody

oversight · supervision · stewardship · trust · responsibility · welfare · nurture · guidance · patronage · providence

feudal

tenure

Protected employment status

lordNobleman or ruler
vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
fiefGranted feudal estate

manor · estate · inheritance · heir · marriage rights · relief · escheat · overlord · homage · medieval

Categories

feudalismfief, vassal, fealty, homage, lord
Medieval Englandking, kings, castle, castles, knight
Medieval Feudalismmonarchy, fiefdom, manor, serfdom, vassalage
Medieval Termsfeudalism, manorialism, serfdom, guilds, fiefdoms
child lawchild custody, child protection, child welfare, child support, child rights
child welfarechild protection, child welfare, foster care, child services, foster home

Opposites

legal autonomy

wardshipindependence

Freedom from external control

autonomy · emancipation · self-determination · majority · legal capacity

care and protection

wardshipneglect

Failure to provide care

abandonment · disregard · dereliction · desertion · waste

Family

forward, reward, ward, warden, steward, wards, wardens, guardianship, warding

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