Warning
Info
Warning
Info
Simple English definitions for legal terms
state's ward
Read a random definition: counter wills
A quick definition of state's ward:
A state's ward is a person who is taken care of by the government because they don't have anyone else to take care of them. This can happen if their parents can't take care of them or if they don't have any family. It's like the government becomes their guardian and makes sure they have everything they need to live.
A more thorough explanation:
A state's ward is a person who is under the protection or care of the government. This can include minors who have been assigned a permanent guardian by a juvenile court, or those who are under the supervision of a juvenile court but still have their parental rights intact.
For example, a child who has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect may become a state's ward and be placed in foster care or with a permanent guardian. Similarly, a teenager who has been in trouble with the law may be placed under the supervision of a juvenile court and become a temporary ward of the state.
The term "ward" can also refer to a territorial division in a city for the purposes of city government, or to the act of guarding or protecting something or someone. In the past, it was used to refer to a person who guards something, such as a castle guard.