What happens if the conservatee dies?
The authority of the conservator, whether of the person or estate, ends upon the death of the conservatee and he/she is powerless thereafter to act as conservator of the estate (Probate Code 2631). This lack of authority prevents the conservator from completing most matters, except that the conservator may pay the expenses of the last illness. When the conservatee dies, the conservator is responsible for the care and preservation of the conservatee’s property until it is delivered to the personal representative of the conservatee’s estate or otherwise lawfully disposed of. If the size and nature of the estate qualified under Probate Code 13101, after accounting to the Court, the conservator may deliver the assets to the beneficiary/heir without the need for probate.
