What Are the Different Types of Legal Guardianship?

Conservator or Guardian of the Estate

• A conservator is someone who is appointed by the court to manage the financial affairs of another person. The guardian of the estate, or the conservator is only responsible for managing the financial affairs of the ward and not the personal affairs. People who may be appointed as conservators for children are the parents of the children or their legal guardians. Other people who may be appointed as conservators are neutral third parties -- like lawyers or accountants -- who must ensure that the estate and finances of the ward are managed properly. Once a person is appointed as a conservator over another person's affairs, that person owes the ward the duty of good faith. This means the conservator must manage the estate and financial affairs of the ward to the best of his abilities. Only the court can set the limits for the duration of a conservatorship.
  
  

Guardian of the Person

• A guardian of the person is someone appointed by the court to manage a person's personal affairs. Such a person is only restricted to managing the personal affairs of the ward and not the financial affairs. Examples of decisions a guardian of the person may make on behalf of the ward, include medical decisions and education. Examples of people who may need guardians of the person are elderly people, who may be physically weak but mentally alert.
  
  

Emergency Guardian

• An emergency guardian is someone who is appointed as the guardian of a ward in a situation of emergency. Such a guardian is appointed when there are questions pertaining to the safety or welfare of the child. An example of such a situation is where a child becomes the victim of domestic violence. The emergency guardian could be foster parents, relatives or an attorney. They must care for the child, until a more permanent arrangement can be made.
  
  

Limited Guardian

• A limited guardian is someone who has only been granted authority over a specific aspect of a ward's affairs, and nothing more than that. The sort of situation where a limited guardian might be appointed, is where the parents of a critically ill child oppose a life-saving medical procedure due to religious beliefs. The courts may overrule their objections and appoint a physician to be a limited guardian. The physician would only be permitted to make decisions regarding the child's medical welfare.