The Guardian's Authorities Over the Child in Jordan

A guardian's authorities under Jordanian law combine overseeing the minor's affairs and managing his funds. Article 184 of the Personal Status Law provides that the guardian has the right to oversee the child's affairs, upbringing, education, and guidance — his authority in guardianship over the person — connected to the matter of travel with the child addressed in Article 177.

In guardianship over funds, Article 234 requires whoever manages the funds to manage and care for them with the diligence of a prudent person, and Article 237 restricts major dispositions — such as selling real property, mortgage, lending, settlement, and partition of jointly owned property — by requiring the court's permission. Article 235 subjects the trustee's actions to the court's oversight, so the guardian's authorities are not absolute.

A guardian's authorities are thus always bounded by the minor's interest and judicial oversight, and serious dispositions take effect only with the court's permission.

Assessing the limits of a guardian's authorities and the need for the court's permission remains within the Sharia Court's competence on the facts of each case.

This is a general explanation based on Jordanian Personal Status Law and does not replace advice from a qualified lawyer in a specific dispute.