Guardianships
A guardianship is a court process in which an individual or individuals are appointed the legal guardian over a minor child to raise that child and to manage that child’s financial affairs.
Guardianships are established for the care of the person, for the care of the person’s estate, or for both. A Guardianship of the Person is a court process that allows an individual, other than the minor’s parents, to take care and to ensure that the minor's basic needs of life are satisfied. The Guardianship of the Estate is established when the minor has received a large inheritance or has received a settlement as a result of a lawsuit.
Conservatorships
A conservatorship is a court process in which an individual or a private fiduciary is appointed to care for a mentally-incapacitated or developmentally-delayed adult and to manage that person’s financial affairs.
Like guardianships, conservatorships can be for the care of the person, for the care of the person’s estate, or for both. A Conservatorship of the Person assists developmentally-delayed adults or mentally-incapacitated adults with their basic needs of everyday living. A Conservatorship of the Estate provides for the financial needs of the incapacitated person.