A child may need a guardian because the parent is not available or not capable of caring for the child.  The ward and guardian do not need to be related.  Guardianships are often by consent.  For example, a parent may agree to their child living with another family so that the child can continue to attend school when the parent is deployed in the military or on a temporary work assignment out of the area.  A guardianship may also be in the child’s best interests if the parent or parents are not capable of properly caring for the child.  Alternative legal options may be third party custody (also known as in loco parentis, severance and adoption, or dependency (foster care or kinship care).