A De Facto guardian means a self-appointed guardian. He is a person who, by reason of fact, becomes the guardian of a minor. After the death of natural guardians, any person who takes care of minor's well-being and necessities becomes the de facto guardian.

The term "De Facto Guardian" is not explicitly defined in Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 but Section 11 of this Act abrogates the powers and lays down in express terms that no person shall be entitled to dispose of, or deal with the property of a Hindu minor on the grounds of his or her being the De Facto guardian of the minor.

Alienation of property made by de facto guardian without court's intervention is void. De Facto guardian is not allowed to dispose or deal with the property of the minor, and it is given that the De Facto guardian does not have the right to take any debt according to the Act.

The Kerala High court has held in one of the cases that when a De Facto guardian disposes of the property of a minor, which such guardian could not have dealt with, the minor is not bound to restore the benefits derived by him to the purchaser and that the purchaser can proceed against the de facto guardian as such guardian may be liable for dealing with the properties of the minor.