A Guardian person or entity appointed by the court with the authority to make some or all personal decisions on behalf of an individual the court determines lacks capacity to make such decisions. The term includes conservators and certified private or public fiduciaries. All guardians are accountable to the court.
Conservator - A person or entity appointed by the courts with the authority to make some or all financial decisions on behalf of an individual the court determines needs assistance in making such decisions.
Foreign Guardian - A guardian appointed in another state or jurisdiction.
Guardian of the Estate - A guardian who possesses any or all the power and rights granted by the court with regards to the real or personal property of the individual.
Guardian of the Person - A guardian who possesses any or all the power and rights granted by the court with with regards to the personal affairs of the individual.
Limited Guardian - A guardian appointed by the court to exercise the rights and powers specifically designated by a court order entered after the court finds a person lacks the capacity to do some but not all of the tasks necessary to care for his or her person or property, or after the person voluntarily petition for the appointment of a limited guardian. A limited guardian may possess fewer than all the legal rights and powers of a plenary guardian.
Plenary Guardian - A guardian appointed by the courts to exercise all the delegable rights and powers of the person after the court finds the person lacks the capacity to perform all of the task necessary to care for his or her person or property or both.
Pre-need Guardian - A guardian who is appointed before a guardian is needed.
Standby Guardian - A person or agency or corporation whose appointment as a guardian becomes effective without further proceedings immediately upon the death, incapacity, resignation or temporary absence or unavailability of the initially appointed guardian.
Successor Guardian - A guardian who is appointed to act upon the death or resignation of the previous guardian.
