What Is the Role of a Conservator?

In California, a conservatorship is the legal term for a court proceeding in which a probate judge appoints a responsible adult or organization, known as a conservator, to manage the daily life and/or finances of an adult, or conservatee, who is unable to adequately care for themselves because of a cognitive or physical disability (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). In some states, this same type of arrangement is referred to as a “guardianship.” 

Note: To avoid confusion, we will use the terms “conservatorship” and “guardianship” (as well as “conservator” and “guardian”) interchangeably to describe the responsibilities of a person who has been appointed by the court to manage the personal and/or financial affairs of an incapacitated adult.

The role of a conservator is to protect the wellbeing and/or finances of an adult (usually an elder) who cannot do so themselves because of a lack of mental competence or a physical disability. 

A conservator is a type of fiduciary (just like powers of attorney, trustees and executors/administrators), which means that every decision the conservator makes on behalf of the conservatee must be in the conservatee’s best interest. 

As an example, a conservator must never use a conservatee’s assets for personal gain. If it becomes necessary to relocate the conservatee to an assisted living facility, the conservator cannot take that opportunity to move into the conservatee’s home; however, they could seek court approval to sell the conservatee’s home in order to pay for the conservatee’s health care, since that action would benefit the conservatee.

What are the responsibilities of a conservator of the estate? Is a conservator responsible for paying the conservatee’s medical bills? Is a conservator responsible for paying their debt? Is the conservator responsible for paying these expenses out of their own pockets?

A conservator of the estate is appointed to supervise the financial affairs of an adult who is found by the court to be incapable of doing so themselves. Financial conservatorships may require the conservator to manage the conservatee’s assets, income and public assistance benefits. 

A conservator of the estate is responsible only for managing the finances of the conservatee; the conservator is generally not responsible for paying the conservatee’s bills or debt using the conservator’s own assets (unless the conservator agrees to do so or previously entered into a legal agreement that requires them to do so). 

To protect against unintended financial obligations arising from negligence or wrongdoing, conservators, especially if they do not have experience being a conservator, should strongly consider having an attorney on their team to guide them. If the attorney’s services provide benefit to the conservatee, and the conservatee has sufficient assets, the court will likely approve the conservator’s request for the attorney’s fees and costs to be paid from the conservatee’s finances. Similarly, if the conservator of the estate needs to hire, say, a tax professional to help with the conservatee’s taxes or a real estate agent to list one of the conservatee’s properties, these expenses, too, can likely be paid from the conservatee’s finances with court approval.

If the conservator is planning to make a decision that would have a significant impact on the life of the conservatee (e.g., by selling their home or purchasing a new residence for the conservatee), they generally will need to obtain court permission first. If the conservator is unsure whether a decision requires court permission, it is best for them to err on the side of caution and speak with a conservatorship lawyer about their plans.

What are the responsibilities of a conservator of the person? What does a conservator of the person do? What sorts of decisions can they make on behalf of the conservatee?

A conservator of the person is appointed to supervise the personal affairs of an adult who is found by the court to be unable to meet the essential requirements for personal needs, including food, clothing, shelter, health care and safety. 

Unless the conservator of the person and conservator of the estate are the same person, a conservator of the person’s responsibilities do not include any duty or task that is predominantly financial in nature; they are charged solely with protecting the health and safety of the conservatee. That being said, they may have to regularly coordinate with the conservator of the estate (or whoever is in charge of the conservatee’s finances) to arrange for the conservatee’s daily needs and health care.

Like conservators of the estate, conservators of the person are generally not responsible for paying for the conservatee’s daily needs out of their own pockets.

Because a conservator of the person is responsible for managing the conservatee’s health care, they may have to make life-changing medical decisions for the conservatee, but before doing so, they generally will have to seek permission from the court. As an example, if a conservatee’s dementia has progressed to the point that it has become unsafe for them to stay in a residence where they cannot be watched 24/7, their conservator of the person may find it is in their best interest to relocate them to a locked or secured facility. The conservator of the person would have to seek the court’s permission before proceeding with such a decision. 

Conservators of the person should also keep records of the decisions they make on behalf of the conservatee. Keeping thorough records will not only help the conservator track the conservatee’s medical history and health care but also help to protect themselves in the event they are asked to defend their actions in court. A probate attorney can help conservators of the person navigate tough decisions.

Because of the vast amount of power both conservators of the estate and conservators of the person have over conservatees, there is potential for misconduct. To prevent this form of elder abuse, it is important to point out what is not considered one of the duties of a guardian for the elderly.

If conservators have questions about what they can and cannot do, they should speak with a conservatorship lawyer before proceeding further. It is worth noting that if a conservator needs legal help, they will likely not need to pay for it themselves; rather, the conservator’s estate, if it is well-funded, may be able to cover the costs.

Unlike powers of attorney and trusts — which can serve as alternatives to conservatorships if they were executed prior to the incapacitated adult losing competence — conservatorships are supervised by the court, so if the conservator is not being diligent in fulfilling their duties or are engaged in misconduct, it is possible they will be found out. 

After an investigation is carried out into the alleged negligence or misconduct of the conservator, the court may order the conservator to be removed and replaced. And, if the conservator caused significant harm to the conservatee’s person or finances, the court may hold them liable for paying damages as well.  

Unfortunately, there is also the possibility that a conservator’s misconduct or negligence will not be found out. Because most conservatees are not mentally competent enough to notice a conservator’s suspicious behavior, they may not raise alarms when it is taking place. This is why it’s important for the loved ones of conservatees to keep tabs on the conservatorship and speak to a conservatorship lawyer at the first sign of the conservator potentially engaging in wrongdoing.