Ward (law)

Family law
Entering into marriage
Prenuptial agreement Marriage Common-law marriage Same-sex marriage
Legal states similar to marriage
Cohabitation Civil union Domestic partnership Registered partnership Putative marriage
Dissolution of marriage
Annulment Divorce Legal separation (Alimony)
Issues affecting children
Adoption Child abduction Child abuse Child custody Child marriage Child Protective Services (United States) Child support Contact (including visitation) Emancipation of minors Foster care Grandparent visitation Legal guardian Legitimacy Parental responsibility Parenting coordinator Parenting plan Paternity Residence in English family law Ward
Conflict of laws
Divorce Marriage Nullity International child abduction (Convention)
Related areas
Adultery Bigamy Domestic violence Incest

In law, a ward is someone placed under the protection of a legal guardian. A court may take responsibility for the legal protection of an individual, usually either a child or incapacitated person, in which case the ward is known as a ward of the court, or a ward of the state, in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. In Ireland and the United Kingdom "the" is not used; the ward is thus termed a ward of court. In Canada the legal term is Crown ward.

When children enter into CYS custody or foster care, they become wards of various government entities dependent on country. In the U.S. they become wards of the respective states in which they reside. The state via the family court stands in loco parentis to the child. Generally this entails assuming all lawful authority to make medical and legal decisions on the child's behalf.

In the United States, native peoples have also, at various times, under certain circumstances, been made wards of the state. One consequence of this was that they were not permitted to sue the federal government.^{[citation needed]}

In Canada, to this day, Native American status' remain wards of the state as a result of Indian Act legislation. Some scholars and political organizations, such as the Assembly of First Nations, have argued that this represents an apartheid-like system of governance.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Charge (youth)
• Godchild
• Court of Wards and Liveries
• Government involvement in the Terri Schiavo case
• History of the English fiscal system