Guardianship is a legal arrangement in which an individual (a guardian) is given legal authority and responsibility to care for another individual (a ward). Parents may appoint guardians of their minor children in a will or other estate planning document so if both parents die before their children reach the age of majority (become adults) the guardian will have the legal authority to care for the children.

Or if a minor’s child’s only living parent expects to lose the ability to care for the child due to the parent’s deteriorating health or other incapacity, the parent may initiate a legal process to make an adult relative or friend the child’s legal guardian. And if a minor child’s parents are not fit or able to care for their child, the court may appoint a legal guardian.

Guardianship may also be appropriate an adult who, because of a physical or mental condition, is substantially unable to:

• provide their own food, clothing, or shelter;

• care for their own physical health; or

• manage their own financial affairs.

A legal guardian is responsible for the ward’s daily care, including the ward’s food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, and financial needs. But a legal guardian’s responsibility is not permanent, and generally terminates when the minor child reaches the age of majority (usually 18).

And if the ward’s parent or parents become able to care for the ward again, the court may end the guardianship. If the ward has special needs, the guardianship may continue after the ward becomes an adult.

The temporary nature of a guardianship, and the fact that it is supervised by the court, is different from the adoption process in which the adoptive parents assume the same responsibilities as biological parents.

Laws regarding the various types of guardianships available vary from state to state and are often located in a state's statutes.

In West Virginia, guardianship is a legal mechanism where a guardian is appointed to care for a ward, who may be a minor or an incapacitated adult. For minors, guardianship can be established through a will or other estate planning document by the parents, or by the court if the parents are deceased, incapacitated, or deemed unfit. The guardian is responsible for the minor's daily needs and this responsibility typically ends when the child reaches the age of majority, which is 18 years old in West Virginia. However, guardianship can be extended if the ward has special needs. For adults, guardianship is appropriate when an individual is unable to care for themselves or manage their own affairs due to physical or mental conditions. The court supervises the guardianship to ensure the ward's needs are met. Unlike adoption, guardianship is not permanent and does not sever the legal relationship between a child and their biological parents. West Virginia state statutes provide specific guidelines and procedures for establishing guardianship, which must be followed to ensure the arrangement is legally recognized and appropriately managed.