A person who is declared legally responsible for the care of a child by a court of law is called what?

• A. Guardian
• B. Custodial Parent
• C. State Law
• D. Minimum standards

Answer: (A)

Guardianship. When a court declares someone legally responsible for a child’s care, that person becomes the child’s guardian. A guardian has the authority to make important decisions about the child’s health, education, welfare, and often finances, always acting in the child’s best interests. This is different from a custodial parent, who is the person the child primarily lives with and who provides day-to-day care; a guardian is the formal court-appointed role that may or may not coincide with who the child lives with. State law and minimum standards are not people; they refer to rules and guidelines governing care.