Conservatorship
Conservatorship
A conservatorship is a court case in which a judge appoints a responsible person or entity (called the conservator) to care for another adult (called the conservatee) who cannot care for themselves or manage their own finances.
Probate examiner notes are not available for conservatorship cases.
Probate conservatorships
The following conservatorships are based on the laws in the California Probate Code. They are the most common types of conservatorships.
General conservatorships – Conservatorships for adults who cannot care for themselves or manage their finances. Conservatees are often elderly individuals, but may also include younger people who have experienced serious impairments, such as injuries from an accident.
Limited conservatorships – Conservatorships for adults with developmental disabilities who cannot fully care for themselves or manage their finances. Conservatees in limited conservatorships usually require less assistance than those in general conservatorships.
LPS conservatorships – Confidential conservatorships for adults who require care due to serious mental health conditions.
Who can file for conservatorship?
When appointing a conservator, the court considers the best interests of the proposed conservatee. If the proposed conservatee has nominated someone and has the ability to express that preference, the court will generally appoint that person unless doing so would not be in the conservatee’s best interests.
The following individuals or entities may file a petition for conservatorship:
- The spouse or domestic partner of the proposed conservatee
- A relative of the proposed conservatee
- A state or local agency
- An interested person or friend of the proposed conservatee
- The proposed conservatee