Guardianship is a court proceeding in which a person or agency is appointed by a judge to make decisions for an adult who has been determined to be incompetent.  No person in Wisconsin can act as a guardian for an adult unless appointed by the court, and no guardian has any powers over an adult except those given by statutes and court order.

• Guardian of the Estate -- This is an individual appointed by the Court that takes possession of their ward's real property, personal property, and income to maintain and support their ward for as long as they are appointed Guardian of the Estate.  By law, this individual is obligated to provide an inventory of all of their ward's real and personal property to the Court and must submit an accounting of the ward's assets and income on an annual basis
• Guardian of the Person -- This is an individual appointed by the Court to secure necessary care and services that their ward might need, including regular in-person inspection of their ward's condition, surroundings, and treatment.

A Guardian of the Person and a Guardian of the Estate may be the same individual, different individuals, or more than one individual acting in both capacities as co-guardians.

For more information, and additional resources, please visit the Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center and the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association websites.