When there was no will the wife received only Dower Rights, 1/3 of the estate. The remainder went to the children. If the children were underage it was necessary for a guardian to be appointed to administer the estate of the children. The mother/wife could apply to the court for appointment as guardian. Many women did not have education and felt unqualified to fill the guardian role, thus another would be appointed. Having a guardian did not necessarily mean the children were removed from the home of the mother. Children where often from another marriage and the current wife had no legal hold on these children. She could still apply to probate to be the guardian. I have some where the mother or aunt was appointed guardian, others the grandfather, and some guardians were administrators of the deceased's estate. I think it really came down to who could and would fill this roll. Gava