PARENS PATRIAE which is Latin for PARENT OF THE FATHERLAND (COUNTRY) in law refers to the public power that the state has to intervene in the affairs of an incompetent or abusive legal guardian, parent or caretaker in their duties to a child and to act as the parent of any child in need of protection.
The State is able to do this in its role as the SUPREME GUARDIAN of all children in its jurisdiction.
