Conservatorship

Similar to a guardian, a conservator is appointed when an individual lacks the legal capacity to take care of oneself and make necessary decisions. The same person may serve as both the guardian and conservator, or a different person can be appointed for each role. A conservator may be needed if an individual is no longer able to handle their own financial affairs responsibly. Signs your loved one may need a conservator include forgetting to pay bills, making unexplained financial decisions, or falling victim financial scams or identity theft. A conservator takes care of an individual's financial affairs, such as paying bills and making other informed financial decisions on their behalf. They have the power to handle and make payments from all assets held on behalf of the protected individual. 

A petition for the appointment of a conservator may be initiated by an individual who is requesting protection, a person who has interest in that person's welfare or estate, or by a person who has been adversely affected by ineffective management of property or affairs. A conservator can be an individual, corporation, or professional conservator. The petition must be brought to the probate court in the county where the individual lives. The court will schedule a hearing and review the evidence to establish if there is a need for a conservator. In both guardianship and conservator cases, the individuals acting in these roles must promote the well-being and best interest of the protected person. Their roles will last until the court officially ends it and they will be required to file annual paperwork keeping the court and other interested parties informed.