Types of Conservatorships

What is a Conservatorship?

A Conservatorship is a court supervised relationship involving a conservator and conservatee. Conservatorships can be of the person when one can no longer properly provide for their physical health, food, clothing, and shelter. They can also be of the estate when one can no longer manage their financial resources or resist fraud or undue influence.

General Conservatorships

This type of Conservatorship is ordered for adults who are completely unable to care for themselves or their finances, often due to impairment from a serious accident, dementia, or other health issue. These conservatees are often elderly people, but can also be younger people who have been seriously impaired.

Limited Conservatorships

This type of Conservatorship is ordered for adults with developmental disabilities who cannot fully care for themselves or their finances. These are individuals who already have a disability before reaching the age of 18. Conservatees in limited conservatorships do not need the higher level of care or help that conservatees in general conservatorships need. This is because the court focus on preserving the maximum amount of independence for the individual. In this case, the Regional Center will investigate and provide a report to the court.

For example, a special needs child with a developmental disability reaches the age of 18 and continues to need assistance in certain areas of life. With a limited Conservatorship, parents could continue to provide that assistance without meeting resistance from third parties, such as schools or doctors, which would otherwise be obligated to recognize the individual as an adult.