How is a conservatorship established?
The conservatorship process begins when someone proposes to the court that he or she should be appointed conservator over a proposed conservatee. This “proposal” is officially known as a petition for conservatorship. • Who can petition for a conservatorship? • A relative, friend, public official, nonprofit agency, or professional conservator may petition the court to be appointed conservator of an individual.4 • To obtain a conservatorship, the proposed conservator must be bondable; that is, a surety agency must be willing to issue a bond ensuring that the conservator will faithfully execute his or her duties.5 • Generally, in order to obtain a bond, a conservator must be represented by an attorney. • What does the petitioner need to do? • To obtain a conservatorship over the person, the petitioner must prove to the court that the proposed conservatee is “unable to provide properly for his or her personal physical needs, including: health, food, clothing, or shelter.”6 • To obtain a co
