Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Wardship means taking care of someone who is not yet an adult. It can also mean the situation of being taken care of by someone else. In the past, it was a rule that if a parent died, the person who owned the land they lived on would take care of their child until they were grown up. This was called wardship or guardage.
Definition: Wardship refers to the guardianship of a person, usually a minor. It can also refer to the condition of being a ward. In feudal times, it was the right of the lord to take care of a deceased tenant's minor heir until they reached adulthood.
1. When a child's parents pass away, a guardian is appointed to take care of them until they reach adulthood. This is an example of wardship.
2. In medieval times, if a tenant died and left behind a minor heir, the feudal lord would take care of the child until they came of age. This was known as wardship.
These examples illustrate how wardship refers to the legal responsibility of taking care of a minor until they are old enough to take care of themselves. It can be appointed by the court or granted by law, as in the case of feudal wardship.