**Guardianship:** When the parents of a child are not around or are unable to care for a child, someone else (a relative, friend, or another adult) can ask the court to be made guardian of a child. In California, a judge can appoint a guardian to care for a person under age 18 or to manage the minor's estate (property), or both.  Guardianships can be in probate court.  And guardianships can also be ordered in juvenile dependency court.  In some states, conservatorship of an adult is called guardianship, but not in California. (Compare with conservatorship.)