A personal guardian is an individual appointed to make decisions about a child’s care and upbringing when those with parental responsibility or parental rights and responsibilities cannot do so, usually because of death or incapacity. In practice, it refers to the person named in a will, parental responsibility agreement or court order to assume day‑to‑day responsibility for the child’s welfare, living arrangements, education and medical decisions.In England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, the role is governed mainly by children and succession legislation (for example, guardianship provisions in the Children Act 1989 and equivalent Northern Irish legislation), and is usually termed “guardian” rather than “personal guardian”. In Scotland, the nearest equivalent is a “guardian” with parental responsibilities and rights under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. In Ireland, the role is regulated by the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (as amended), again using “guardian”.“Personal guardian” is therefore a descriptive term rather than a defined statutory label, but it is commonly used in private client, family law and estate planning to distinguish the person caring for the child from trustees or financial guardians managing the child’s property.