I serve as Court Appointed Counsel for Los Angeles and Orange County. I am appointed to represent people when someone petitions to become their Conservator. My job is to ADVOCATE for my client. A Conservatorship takes away the civil rights you gain as an adult to make your own decisions about where you live, what kind of medical treatment you get, how you spend your money, where you go, etc. A Conservatorship takes away those rights and can even take your right to vote.
Conservatorships are often necessary when a person is no longer capable of making their own medical decisions, is unable to manage their finances, or is subject to undue influence. A Conservatorship is always expensive, invasive, messy, and sadly, there are corrupt people who can get involved.
If a family fights, the Court will appoint a Private Professional Fiduciary to take over. Most of them are good people, but some use this position to steal (some have been criminally convicted of embezzlement) or to benefit their friends who overcharge for work on the Conservatee’s house, etc.
I hate when I have to tell someone this is their only option. I make more money filing a Conservatorship than I do preparing Living Trusts and Powers of Attorney to prevent them. Nonetheless, I want to encourage everyone I know to PLAN so that they stay out of our living Probate Court under a Conservatorship.
