Who is classified as an individual professional guardian?

An individual professional guardian is specifically defined as an unrelated person who receives compensation for serving as a guardian. This classification is crucial because it emphasizes the professional nature of the role, distinguishing it from other types of guardianship, such as those involving family members or voluntary community support.

When a guardian is an unrelated individual, it typically means they are acting independently and have no personal ties to the ward—this is meant to help ensure that their decisions are made purely in the best interest of the person they are representing. The emphasis on compensation also highlights the expectation that such guardians have the requisite training and knowledge to fulfill their responsibilities effectively.

Being a court-appointed representative alone does not encompass the breadth of responsibilities and qualifications often associated with a professional guardian. Likewise, while a corporate representative from a guardian organization can certainly have a significant role in guardianship, they are not classified as an individual professional guardian. Instead, they represent a different aspect of the guardianship service landscape, typically involving larger organizations with multiple clients or wards.