A guardianship action is a court procedure to appoint a substitute decision maker called a guardian to make medical and/or financial decisions for an incompetent person called a ward. A guardian of the estate is an individual or corporation appointed by the probate court to manage the financial affairs of the ward. The guardian of the estate has no authority over personal and health care decisions unless he or she is also appointed as the ward’s guardian of the person. The guardian of the person is an individual or corporation appointed by a probate court to make decisions for a ward. The guardian of the person has no authority over the ward’s property or finances, unless he or she is also appointed as the ward’s guardian of the estate.