Guardianships are a useful legal tool to help people who lack the capacity to make decisions for themselves – such as those suffering from dementia or developmental disability. In a guardianship proceeding the court appoints a guardian to manage an incapacitated person’s financial assets or personal affairs. The incapacitated person is then known as the “protected person.” A guardian can help ensure that the protected person lives with security and dignity to the greatest extent possible given their circumstances.