Which term describes a formal court document that grants power or rights to act on behalf of a ward?

• A. Informed consent
• B. Psychotropic medications
• C. Petition
• D. Letters of office or guardianship

Answer: (D)

Authority to act for a ward comes from a formal court document issued after guardianship is granted. These documents, called letters of office or guardianship, officially certify the guardian’s authority and specify what rights and duties the guardian holds. They are the concrete proof a guardian presents to banks, doctors, and other institutions to handle the ward’s finances, healthcare decisions, and day-to-day matters within the scope approved by the court. In contrast, other options describe things unrelated to the formal grant of power: a petition is the filing that asks the court to appoint a guardian, informed consent relates to agreeing to medical treatment, and psychotropic medications refer to a class of drugs, not to a legal document granting authority.