Protection of the rights and interests of children and incapacitated adults (wards of court) was regulated in Roman law through the institutes of tutelage and guardianship. The institutions already existed in the age of the Law of Twelve Tables and they evolved during the entire timespan of Roman legal history. For their development was essential the organization of Roman family and the power of pater familias over the members of his family. This power (patria potestas) had lasted from the birth of children until the death of pater familias or the moment of their emancipation, when Romans became sui iuris, i.e. when they could have their own property and could dispose of it freely, entering into legal transactions without restrictions. Exceptions to this were children who were left without paternal authority at an early age and women who were considered to need special protection even after reaching maturity. In order to provide protection to underage children, as well as to the property interests of their kin as potential heirs, the institute of tutela impuberum was established. In this work it is explained in more detail who could be tutors and how they could be appointed, e.g. pater familias could appoint a tutor to his children who would become sui iuris after his death in his will. In case that the pater familias did not appoint a tutor by will, the tutela legitima would be used according to which the function of a tutor would be performed by an agnate, a relative by father. In the absence of the aforementioned tutors, in the city of Rome and the provinces, according to the lex Atilia and the lex Iulia et Titia, the Atilian tutor would be set. The last type is also an indicator of the new understanding of tutelage which had to be performed as a public duty, and not anymore as the way to protect the interests of tutors. The other form of tutelage known in Roman law was tutela mulierum, providing protection to adult women who, as Gaius informs us in a disagreeing tone, had to be under the supervision of tutors due to poor judgment (levitas animi). Within this chapter main features of tutela mulierum are discussed as well as the differences to tutela impuberum. It is further elaborated how the Roman law very early recognized the need to provide care to adults who were unable to take care of their rights due to mental illness, spendthrift behaviour, or young age and inexperience. There are three basic forms of guardianship (cura) which are explained: cura furiosi, cura prodigy, and cura minorum. It is emphasized here that the tutorship and guardianship are related institutes and many rules, such as those on excuses or insurance, apply to both. The need for such a legal regulation when providing the protection and care for rights and interests of underage children and incapacitated adults still exists today, and in the contemporary Croatian law there is one general institute of guardianship for that purpose regulated by the Family Act. Initially, it is explained how the reforms of the family law sought to regulate guardianship in order to provide more and more protection for children and adults under guardianship. Furthermore, it is elaborated how the guardianship in contemporary Croatian law can be established for children, adults, and a special guardian for children and adults can be appointed in order to provide protection of certain rights and interests. The major traits of all three are described, with special references to the judicial practice of the Constitutional Court, County Courts and the High Administrative Court. In the end, it is pointed to the main connections between the Roman law and the contemporary Croatian law of tutelage and guardianship and it is stressed how the main changes which influenced the contemporary characteristics of the institute happened in Roman classical and postclassical law.