Guardianship is a court-ordered relationship in which a judge appoints one person to manage the health care and placement decisions of another. The person who has a guardian appointed is referred to as a protected person. A protected person under a guardianship is someone who is determined to be legally incapacitated. A protected person can be a child or an adult.If a person becomes incapable of making decisions on their own about their medical treatment or everyday life, and their health or safety may be in danger, they may need a Guardian to assist them.