Conservatorships and Guardianships

Conservatorships are often important for families with members incapacitated by illness, advanced age, or disabilities. There are four different kinds of conservatorships, which may be appropriate for different situations:

• General conservatorships are intended for adults who cannot manage their own affairs and are at risk of overreaching, such as the elderly, those seriously injured by accidents, or those who are seriously ill;

• Limited conservatorships are intended for those with disabilities who cannot manage their own affairs, but who may not require the same broad level of supervision as a conservatee of a general conservatorship;

• Temporary conservatorships may be appointed when a conservatorship is needed right away, such as in a medical emergency, and must be filed in conjunction with a general conservatorship case;

• Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorships are intended for adults with serious disabilities who need highly specialized care, such as unique living arrangements, trained staff, locked facilities or powerful medication.

We can guide clients through the conservatorship application process, including conservatorship screening. We have successfully obtained conservatorship appointments for many families taking care of elders and members with disabilities. We have dealt with general, limited, temporary and LPS conservatorships, and can help each client assess their situation and determine the best conservatorship setup for their needs. We will communicate with physicians to obtain the necessary medical documentation for conservatees with limited mental capacity or severe illness.  We have also successfully opposed the imposition of conservatorships, or specifically tailored the powers to meet the needs of the proposed conservatee.