Bevogtes

Bevogtes is a historical Dutch term referring to guardians or custodians appointed to oversee the interests of certain persons or institutions. In medieval and early modern Dutch-speaking regions, bevogtes were typically designated by civil or ecclesiastical authorities to manage the affairs of wards, such as orphans, the mentally incapacitated, or holders of charitable property, as well as to administer estates or endowments.

Role and duties: A bevogte was responsible for safeguarding assets, collecting income, paying costs, and representing the ward in legal matters. They kept records, filed accounts with the appointing authority, and acted to ensure the ward’s welfare, including education and maintenance, within the bounds of the law.

Appointment and oversight: Bevogtes were chosen from among reputable local residents and served under supervision of a higher court or institution. Term of office generally lasted until the ward reached majority or until guardianship was terminated. Misconduct or mismanagement could lead to removal and replacement.

Historical context and decline: The institution arose from feudal and ecclesiastical guardianship structures and remained common in the Low Countries through the early modern period. With the codification of civil law in the 18th–19th centuries and subsequent reforms to guardianship and trusteeship, the term bevogte fell out of routine usage, though it appears in historical records and legal sources.

See also: voogd, voogdij, guardianship, curator, trustee.