What is a conservator?
A conservator is a person appointed by the court to manage the property of a person found to be incapacitated (or has disappeared, been detained by a foreign country, or held hostage). Once appointed, the conservator receives and expends the ward’s money and other assets, but only for the benefit of the ward and the ward’s dependents. A conservator generally must post a bond to protect the ward’s estate against mismanagement or abuse. The cost of the bond is based on a percentage of the value of the ward’s estate, and is reimbursable from the ward’s funds. The conservator must develop a plan that specifies what services are necessary to manage the ward’s assets, how these services will be provided, and how decision-making will be shared with the ward and others as appropriate.
A conservator is a person, or persons, appointed by a court to manage finances and property for an adult who is incapacitated, and whose assets may be wasted or dissipated unless management is provided; or if protection is necessary for the adult to obtain or provide money for the individual’s or his/her dependent’s support. A person under a conservatorship is called a protected person. The appointment of a conservator is not a determination of incapacity of a protected person. (Colorado Revised Statutes 15-14-409(4)) Conservatorship is usually not necessary for a person with limited assets such as low income from wages, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or small pensions. A rule of thumb is that conservatorship is not necessary if the person only has enough income and assets to meet his/her daily needs.
“conservator of the person” is someone appointed by the Probate Court when the Court finds that a person is incapable of caring for himself/herself including the inability to make decisions about his or her medical care. The conservator of the person has responsibility for the general custody and care of the incapable individual and has the power to give consent for the medical care, treatment and services provided to the incapable person. You can name in advance the person you want the Court to appoint as your conservator if you become incapable of making your own decisions. If you have a conservator, he or she will be consulted in all medical care decisions. If you have a living will, however, the conservator’s consent is not required to carry out your wishes as expressed in the living will.
• A “conservator of the person” is someone appointed by the probate court to supervise your “personal affairs” if you are incapable of caring for yourself or otherwise agree to it voluntarily. “Incapable of caring for one’s self” means “a mental, emotional or physical condition resulting from mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs or alcohol, or confinement, which results in the person’s inability to provide medical care for physical and mental health needs, nutritious meals, clothing, safe and adequately heated and ventilated shelter, personal hygiene and protection from physical abuse or harm and which results in endangerment to such person’s health.” • Conservatorship is either voluntary (where you ask a Probate Court to appoint a conservator for you), or involuntary (where someone else asks a Probate Court to appoint a conservator on your behalf). • Effective October 1, 2006, Connecticut law requires that conservators comply with you
The term “conservator” is used in several ways. In the first sense, a conservator is someone who looks after items of special value, such as rare books or pieces in a museum or art gallery. In addition, a conservator can be a court-appointed guardian of a person or an estate, and his or her status can be permanent or temporary, depending on the circumstances. In both cases, the term implies protection, and a conservator has certain responsibilities as well as rights. In the sense of protecting and preserving items of value, a conservator typically undergoes special training which qualifies him or her in the field. Most conservators study archiving, learning how to handle and preserve the items they work with, and many study anthropology, because they are interested in the cultural value of the artifacts they protect. A conservator may work in the back of house, preserving and mounting items for display as well as studying and cataloging them, or in the front of house, assisting visitor
