GUARDIANSHIP.

Guardianship means obtaining the legal authority to make decisions for another person. A guardian is the person appointed by the court to make decisions on behalf of someone else.

A guardianship may be needed over a child if there is no parent available to care for the child. This guardian will have responsibility over the child’s estate until the child reaches the age of majority / becomes an adult (18 years of age).

A guardianship may be needed over an adult if the adult is incapacitated (the person is unable to take care of himself or herself due to mental illness mental deficiency, disease or mental incapacity).

Guardianship over a child lasts until the child turns 18 or becomes an adult while guardianship over an adult last until the adult regains the ability to care for himself or until the adult passes away.