[nickcarraway]

Isn't a spouse the automatic guardian, barring anything unusual?

[Sabatier]

I believe it depends on the laws of the state. There's legal guardian, a healthcare proxy, a living will, and absent those, testimony from those closest to you to help courts decide who will speak for you if you can't do it yourself, at least, that's what I found. In this particular case the probate judge seems to have a history of siding with the husband. That may be where all the trouble began for the family.