Ward of the State is a legally binding contract between a person and the state. In legal terminology, a warship is a wardship or incapacitation of an adult placed under the guardianship of a court or other legal authority, for the care of an individual. These individuals may also be referred to as “wardens of the state” or as “warderes”. As a matter of fact, worship exist in all states of the United States of America.
What is a ward of the state? A ward, under California law, is someone who is unable to care for himself/herself and is protected by the state from interfering with the affairs of others. The term “ward” is commonly used to describe guardianship or placement as well. For instance, if your parents, as homeowners, placed you under the care of a licensed family therapist, then you would be considered a ward of the state. If your child had been diagnosed with a mental illness and was under the guardianship of his or her primary care practitioner, then you would be considered a ward in that situation.
Who can become a ward in California? Anyone who is legally incapacitated and who lacks the ability to care for himself/herself is considered a ward of the state. Family and friends are not always required to make this designation, nor are people who have been victims of battery, abuse, neglect, or the like. There is an exception to this rule if the person is considered to be mentally incapacitated; that is, if they are experiencing extreme psychological pain and/or if their capability to distinguish right from wrong is severely impaired.
When is a child placed under the guardianship of someone in the state? A child may be placed under the care of a licensed physician or nurse if the child has been diagnosed with a severe mental illness and requires medical attention. If the patient is deaf, then he or she may be placed under the care of an adult who is hearing impaired. However, once a person is deemed incapacitated, the state will require that he or she be placed in the state’s wards’ home. This type of guardianship arrangement is referred to as “Income Dependent Treatment” or “ID Therapy.”
Is there any way to protect me from being declared a ward of the state in my own child? The best protection for you is to avoid being declared a ward of the state in the first place. This essentially means avoiding criminal charges stemming from false allegations or dementia, which can be used against you if your guardianship case goes to trial. If you suspect that someone has maligned you or made false accusations against you, call a qualified criminal defense attorney immediately.
Is my child innocent of all charges? Unfortunately, the answer is no. In some instances, innocent children are placed in foster homes or juvenile centers because their parents are considered “mentally ill.” Other times, children are placed in these facilities after they have been severely abused, neglected, or murdered.
Although nobody is ever sure what is a ward of the state, most courts consider a child’s entire life a danger unless they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are not at fault for their current predicament.