In the Otoman Empire, when a subject died and a child was orphaned, a trustee was appointed formally to overseen their inheritance. The duties of the trustees were to protect the orphan’s properties and to secure and manage them. When the matured physically and mentally, the trustees gave up their duties. The purpose of appointing a trustee was to ensure the properties of the orphan were not plundered and their future was securred. The empire protected all orphans, both Muslim and non-Muslim, without discrimination.

Keywords: Vasî, yetim çocuklar, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu, Trustee, orphan, Ottoman Empire