Conservatorships

Estate Planning is much more than figuring out the distribution of assets to beneficiaries but can be a means to protect yourself and your children when you can no longer do so. One way you can protect yourself, and any children, is through the creation of a comprehensive Estate Plan that takes into consideration the role Conservatorships could play in your life and the lives of others if you do not plan appropriately. But Conservatorships are often misunderstood, and because of that, people tend to avoid them.

At RJ Fichera Law Firm, we will ask the right questions so that a comprehensive estate plan can be created. To do so, we help you understand what Conservatorships are, how they are used, and what their effects are so that you can make informed decisions. Contact us online or at 610-768-9255 for a Free Consultation to learn more about estate planning generally and conservatorships specifically.

What Constitutes a Conservatorship?

Conservatorship is a process a court uses to grant someone (the conservator) legal authority to make decisions on behalf of another person (the conservatee or ward––depending on your jurisdiction) regarding finances and personal care or to manage the conservatee's estate. The term, however, is confusing because it is used for multiple purposes, and different states substitute it with the term guardian, which is a term more often used when speaking of minor children.

There are two basic types of Conservatorships: (1) Limited; and (2) General.

1. Limited Conservatorship

A Limited Conservatorship is created for a person who has a disability like autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disability and has had it prior to their 18th birthday. These Conservatorships are “limited” because they require less supervision and care than conservatees of a General Conservatorship. Conservatees of Limited Conservatorships require less supervision because they are able to maintain a certain level of care on their own.

In these situations, parents should really consider a will that appoints a guardian for a minor child and a conservator for an adult child (which is sometimes referred to as adult guardianship––depending on your jurisdiction). When you die, and your child is still a minor, you want to make sure the person caring for that person (if the other parent is deceased as well or otherwise unable to care for the child) is someone you both trust. Plus, through an Estate Plan, you can do other things, like setting up a trust that will help ensure your child (whether a minor or adult) is financially secure for as long as the trust allows. Plus, if drafted right, an estate plan can also make sure your child benefits from public assistance in addition to trust funds.

2. General Conservatorship

A General Conservatorship is created when an adult (typically an elderly person but can be a younger adult person) cannot manage their finances or health due to deteriorated mental capacity or impairment caused by an illness or injury. While they recover from the illness or injury, a conservator may be appointed by a court to address their medical and financial needs. If you think you are too young to have a Conservatorship affect you, then think of this famous case: Britney Spears and her father.

Examples of when a General Conservatorship may be needed include but are not limited to the person (conservatee or ward), regardless of age:

• falls into a coma due to an injury or illness
• develops a neurological disease, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or dementia
• suffers from a physical trauma––like a head injury, a fall, or a stroke––that impairs their ability to think or express their wishes
• suffers from any other type of mental or physical incapacitation, even if for a short period

One word of caution: People who suffer from any of the above can become vulnerable to bad actors who may try to manipulate the situation for their own financial gain. These bad actors may, for example, attempt to divert your disability payments (fraud) or coerce you into changing a will (undue influence). Here, think of Britney Spears again and the allegations against her family misusing the Conservatorship for their financial gain.

This is why it is ever-important to draft an estate plan as soon as you can regardless of your age or job because when it comes to your children or your own health, it's nice to know someone you trust is taking care of matters for you while you can not.

To avoid a court-appointed conservator when or if you become ill or incapacitated in some way, you should ensure your estate plan includes things like a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney. What type of document you have will depend on your life circumstances, so speaking with an estate planning attorney in Pennsylvania is important.

What Does a Conservator Do?

A conservator or adult guardian has the power to make important decisions on their conservatee's or ward's behalf. Some common duties they may be permitted to undertake include:

• Changing legal rights, generally
• Fixing the conservatee's residence or dwelling
• Accessing the conservatee's confidential records
• Consenting or withholding consent to marriage
• Entering into contracts on behalf of the conservatee
• Giving or withholding medical consent on behalf of the conservatee
• Selecting the conservatee's relationships
• Make decisions to educate the conservatee

Of course, not all of the above duties will apply to each individual case. In fact, the specific powers of a conservator can be limited. Moreover, a person may have a different conservator for each separate issue. For example, one person may have a conservator to specifically handle financial matters (also known as a conservator of the estate), and another conservator to address healthcare and other personal matters (also known as a conservator of the person).

How are Conservators Appointed?

Conservatorships are appointed by a court. The exact process for becoming a conservator depends first on the procedures set out by the specific court overseeing the process. Unique circumstances also impact how a Conservatorship materializes: are you the one seeking to become a conservator or are you the one who needs a conservator?

In the first instance, you would file a petition with the court. The filing must be served on the potential ward, called the respondent, and must set forth why the respondent's condition results in the inability to make important decisions. A hearing will be held, and the judge will examine the evidence and make a decision.

In the second instance, absent a pending petition, and in lieu of a family member, living will, or another relevant document, the court will appoint a conservator. The conservator can be any number of people, like a:

• Friend
• Social worker
• Neighbor
• Church member
• Attorney
• Nurse
• Another qualified person.

The court takes these matters seriously and will attempt to award the Conservatorship to the best person, but that person may not always be available.

Can a Conservatorship be Contested or Terminated?

A petition requesting the court to award a Conservatorship over you or someone you love can be contested. When the petition is filed and served, you can respond, contesting it. Also, to prevent a specific person from being appointed as a conservator, you can file competing petitions. The rules vary according to jurisdictions, so speaking with an attorney is the best way to avoid delays and errors in the process.

As for termination, Conservatorships are typically made as a permanent arrangement. They are terminated upon the conservatee's death or recovery from the illness or injury that had incapacitated them.

There are times, too, when a court will remove a conservator when cause is found (like abuse). That said, simply because the conservator is removed does not remove or terminate the Conservatorship. Another conservator will be appointed unless the reason for the Conservatorship no longer exists.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

Conservatorships are serious, and the conservatee can lose control of some or all of their financial, medical, and personal matters. Speaking to an attorney to determine what makes sense in your unique situation is critical. At the RJ Fichera Law Firm, we will address your concerns and guide you through the process.

Contact us online or at 610-768-9255 to schedule a Free Consultation.

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