What is the difference between a guardian and a custodian?

A guardian and a custodian are both responsible for certain duties involving minors in Florida. However, there are differences between the two. A guardian is a person who is assigned legal responsibility over a minor, whether it’s a person, property, or both. The court will appoint a guardian when the parents are unable or unwilling to fulfill their parental responsibilities for a minor. When the court appoints a guardian, the minor becomes the ward of the state, and the guardian is responsible for the minor’s wellbeing and making decisions about the minor’s safety. A custodian, on the other hand, is assigned the responsibility of taking care of assets or property owned by a minor, such as bank accounts, stocks, or other investments. The court will appoint a custodian if the minor’s parents are either not able or unwilling to fulfill their responsibility. The custodian is responsible for managing the assets of the minor as if the custodian was the minor’s own parent or guardian. In summary, guardians are assigned legal responsibility of a minor, whereas custodians are assigned legal responsibility of the assets owned by a minor. Both are important roles, as each has a specific set of duties and responsibilities related to taking care of the minor or assets in Florida.

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