What is a general conservatorship?
In California, a general probate conservatorship is a court-supervised arrangement in which a judge appoints a responsible person or organization to make decisions for an adult when the required legal standards are met and less restrictive alternatives are not appropriate.
A conservatorship of the person addresses personal care, including basic needs and living arrangements. A conservatorship of the estate addresses financial management. A court may appoint one or different conservators for these responsibilities.
When families contact us
- An aging parent may be unable to secure safe housing, medical care, food, or other basic needs.
- There are concerns about exploitation or inability to manage assets responsibly.
- Relatives disagree about whether a conservatorship is necessary or who should serve.
- An existing conservatorship needs review, modification, accounting, or court intervention.
Capacity and eligibility are individualized legal questions. Diagnoses, advanced age, or family concern alone do not automatically establish the need for a conservatorship.