physical custody vs. conservatorship vs. guardianship
Explanation:
You are asking three questions here, so I believe three separate answers are warranted. I can only speak for the terms as used in Spain, but I believe that they are used similarly in most Spanish-speaking jurisdictions, although there may be significant variations. But at least in Spain, these are not "generic" terms, but rather each of them has a very specific legal meaning.
"Guarda" = "physical custody". "Guarda" as used in the context of divorce or separation refers to the physical custody ("guarda y custodia") of the children in a marriage, as opposed to legal custody, which is called "patria potestad." In a divorce or separation, the parents will usually continue to maintain joint legal custody of their children ("patria potestad compartida"), but the physical custody ("guarda y custodia") will usually reside with only one parent, the other having visitation rights ("régimen de visitas") and obviously child maintenance duties ("alimentos"). Physical custody may also be joint ("guarda y custodia compartida").
In the context of your text "guarda" may be used in a different sense, so I am offering the following just in case:
"guarda de hecho" = "de facto" guardianship; the actual guardian ("guardador de hecho") of a child who is not a parent, but who is also not court-appointed
"acogimiento" = foster parenting
"Curatela" = "conservatorship". "Curatela", as you indicate, is the court-ordered guardianship of emancipated minors, "pródigos" or incompetent adults ("incapacitados"), and in English is called "conservatorship", a "conservator" ("curador") being "a person appointed by a court to manage the estate or affairs of someone who is legally incapable of doing so" (Black's Law Dictionary, 8th, p. 324).
"Tutela" = "guardianship" "Tutela", as you indicate, is the court-ordered guardianship of minors (and often incompetents) by a person other than a parent, the "tutor" being called "guardian" and the "tutelado" being the "ward." "Tutela" is not equivalent to "legal custody", since the "patria potestad" over a child can only be exercised by a parent.
In the definitions provided below (from Diccionario de Derecho Bosch, Barcelona, 1995) you will see that "curatela" is less "severe" and the "curador" exercises fewer powers than the "tutor".
I hope some of this fits your context!
CURATELA-Consiste en el otorgamiento al encargado de la misma, llamado curador, de unas facultades tutelares que suplirán defectos de capacidad del sometido a curatela para casos concretos y determinados. En este sentido, podría decirse que la curatela es una tutela delimitada por su extensión y contenido; es como una tutela en tono menor. Están sujetos a curatela los emancipados cuyos padres fallecieran o quedaran impedidos para la asistencia prevenida legalmente; los que obtuvieron el beneficio de la mayor edad; y los declarados pródigos. En todos estos casos, la intervención del curador se limitará a los actos que los menores o pródigos no puedan realizar por sí solos. La curatela procede también para las personas incapacitadas en cuya sentencia de incapacitación o resolución judicial que la modifique se decida la curatela; en tal caso, ésta sólo tendrá por objeto la asistencia del curador para aquellos actos previstos expresamente en la decisión judicial. El nombramiento, inhabilidad, excusa y remoción de curador se regulan de la misma forma que las del tutor.
Código civil, artículos 286 a 288, y 291.
TUTELA-Mediante esta institución se suple la deficiencia que afecta a los menores sin padres y a los incapacitados aunque sean mayores de edad. El tutor es el representante del tutelado. Este debe respeto y obediencia a aquél. En el ejercicio de su cargo, el tutor podrá recabar el auxilio de la autoridad, y podrá corregir al menor tutelado de forma razonable y moderada. El tutor está obligado a velar por el tutelado y, en particular, a procurarle alimentos; a educar al menor y procurarle una formación integral; a promover la adquisición o recuperación de la capacidad del tutelado y su mejor inserción en la sociedad; a informar al juez anualmente sobre la situación del menor o incapacitado y rendirle cuenta anual de su administración. El tutor es el administrador legal de patrimonio del tutelado y, en dicha función, observará la diligencia de un buen padre de familia. La tutela se ejercerá bajo la vigilancia del juez. Este, en la resolución en que constituya la tutela o en otra posterior, establecerá las medidas de vigilancia y control que crea oportunas; en cualquier momento, puede el juez exigir del tutor informe sobre la situación del tutelado y del estado de la administración.
Código civil, artículos 231 a 233, y 267 a 270.
La demandante, además de pedir la guarda y custodia de su hijo menor, ... El demandado reconvino suplicando la guarda y custodia del hijo menor, ...
www.aranzadi.es/online/areas/civil/artpub/bib_2005_2650_ac1...
quedarían bajo la guarda y custodia de la madre, con un régimen de visitas ... se la condiciona en cuanto a la guarda y custodia de sus hijas a la ...
extranjeros.mtas.es/es/general/ATC_127.pdf -
1 de Santa Cruz al apreciar un cambio de circunstancias que aconsejaba atribuir la guarda y custodia del menor al padre, aunque posteriormente fue ...
www.tribunalconstitucional.es/AUTOS2004/ATC2004-198.htm
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Note added at 13 hrs (2006-06-08 10:00:37 GMT)
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"Curatela" can also be rendered as "curatorship" and "curador" as "curator." Black's Law Dictionary offers the following definitions:
CURATOR-A temporary guardian or conservator appointed by a court to care for the property or person of a minor or incapacitated person.
--(Civil law) A guardian who manages the estate of a minor, an absent person or an incapacitated person.
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Note added at 17 hrs (2006-06-08 13:47:24 GMT)
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It appears that "conservatorship" is the preferred term in the US, rather than "curatorship", which seems to be used mor often to refer to "museum curatorship".
Here are examples from government websites (".gov") from different US states:
California Courts: Self-Help Center: Seniors: Duties of a Conservator
A conservatorship can be set up after a judge decides that a person (called the "conservatee") can't take care of themselves or their finances. ...
www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/seniors/duties.htm
Conservatorship. At the point where a ward’s assets are valuable enough to require some investment management, the appointment of a conservator will be ...
www.michigan.gov/ltc/0,1607,7-148-7484_7503-14945--,00.html
Selected Montana Statutes about Guardianship and Conservatorship ... Title: Guardianship & Conservatorship: A Handbook for Lawyers Author: Scott K. Summers ...
courts.mt.gov/library/topics/guardian.asp
Single guardianship or conservatorship for two or more persons. 475.065. When application is made for the appointment of a guardian or conservator for two ...
www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C400-499/4750000065.HTM
A guardianship or conservatorship, arranged through an attorney, blocks a person from acting on his or her own behalf. This arrangement is useful when a ...
www.opm.gov/wrkfam/elder-print-version.htm
| Rebecca Jowers
Spain
Local time: 03:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in category: 2222
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