Debt of the Modern Law of Guardianship to Roman Law

The Roman law of guardianship grew out of the family organization. It is also quite closely connected with the law of inheritance. The power of a guardian is that form of family power which ordinarily takes the place of paternal power when there is no one to exercise the latter. It was originally at Rome but an extension of the paternal power.

In this respect the conception of guardianship is different in English law -- English guardianship rests on the principle of protecting the bodily and mental immaturity of youth.