Orange County Divorce Mediation/Collaborative Law

LIMITED CONSERVATORSHIP

A limited conservatorship may be appointed for an adult with a developmental disability. Limited conservatorships are set up to assist developmentally disabled adults who are unable to provide for all their personal or financial needs. A limited conservatorship encourages further development of the conservatee wherever possible. A limited conservator's duty is to help the limited conservatee develop maximum self-reliance and independence.

The judge gives the limited conservator authority to take care of specific aspects of the conservatee's life and no others. The limited conservator's Letters list the exact areas in which he or she is authorized to act.

These areas may include:

1. Where the conservatee will live;
2. See mail, medical records, test results, reports, and all other confidential records and papers relating to the conservatee;
3. Consent or withhold consent to conservatee's marriage;
4. Be the only person who may consent to medical treatment;
5. Restrict the conservatee's social and sexual contacts and relationships;
6. Make all decisions about the conservatee's education; and
7. Restrict the conservatee's right to make contracts.

COURT SUPERVISION: A court investigator will visit the limited conservatee one year after the conservator has been appointed and every two years after that.

ENDING A LIMITED CONSERVATORSHIP: A limited conservatorship continues until one of the following occurs:

1. The conservator dies.
2. The conservatee dies.
3. A general conservator is appointed. (or)
4. A judge ends the limited conservatorship.

REGIONAL CENTERS:  The appropriate Regional Center must be notified when a court is asked to appoint a conservator for someone with a developmental disability. The Regional Center will conduct an interview and file it's report and recommendations with the court prior to the appointment of a limited conservator.

Contact me for a free consultation so we can discuss your case more throroughly.

Sondra BenNaEim, Attorney/Mediator, (714) 619-9344