Are guardians personally liable for the debts of their wards?

Guardians are generally not personally liable for the debts of their wards, meaning that they do not have to use their personal assets to pay off those debts. The role of a guardian is to manage the ward's affairs and make decisions in their best interest, but this responsibility does not extend to taking on the ward's financial obligations unless there is mismanagement involved.

If a guardian mismanages funds, they could potentially face liability. For example, if a guardian fails to properly manage the ward's finances, leading to a situation where the ward's debts increase and the guardian is found to be at fault for the mismanagement, then the guardian might be held responsible for those debts. Courts can also hold guardians accountable for breaching their fiduciary duties, which can include failing to act prudently with the ward's financial affairs.

While the guardian's responsibilities are significant, they are designed to protect both the guardian and the ward from the consequences of debts that the ward has incurred independently.