Before you decide if you want to become a conservator of someone, you need to have an understanding of what a conservatorship is, and the skills and the temper suitable to a conservator.
Lets start with the basics:
When you become someone’s Conservator, you will be in a life-long court process to take care of the Conservatee. You need to know that in California, the Conservatee gets to keep many of their rights. The right to marry and to make a will are preserved to the Conservatee, but the Court may rule as to those rights.
As yourself if you have the following skills:
- Conservator Bookkeeping skills. A Conservator has to be able to keep accurate records of all income, principal and expenditures of the Conservatee, including keeping receipts for all things spent.
- Conservator’s Deadline Management skills: You must be able to keep up with strict deadlines that the Court places on Conservators for the following: A) Level of Care form; B) An Inventory and Appraisal; C) An Accounting; D) Not to mention medication and doctor’s appointment deadlines.
- Conservator’s People Skills: You will need to know how to manage caregivers from agencies, and deal with a Conservatee who may not like his or her caregivers. Your Conservatee may be a difficult person and you will need to have the patience to deal with his or her ever-changing mental status. You will need to determine when you need a geriatric care manager, and when you need a social worker. A Conservator who does not get help can make many mistakes along the road.
- Conservator’s Legal Skills: You will need to learn wage and hour rules in California when hiring caregivers. This is a mandatory skill because not knowing the rules can easily expose the conservatorship estate to many risks. You will need to learn the general conservatorship process and its deadlines. In short, you need to know what type of lawyer to call for different needs of the Conservatee and ask your general conservatorship lawyer for referrals.
Before we can tell you whether or not you should proceed with a conservatorship, ask yourself:
A. How involved am I willing to be with the Conservatee? As the Conservator, you cannot just quit one day. Quiting as a Conservator requires a Court Order.
B. What is the condition of the Conservatee? Mentally and Physically.
Does the Conservatee have Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, or other cognitive disability?
Does the Conservatee have a Developmental Disability?
C. What kind of care is appropriate for the Conservatee?
D. Can the Conservatee live along? Live with a caregiver? Get outside caregiving help? Live in a Board and Care facility or Assisted Living? Does the Conservatee need skilled nursing home care?
Ask us your questions, so we can help determine if a Conservatorship is appropriate for your case.
Types of things you can do that can help you be a better Conservator:
- Make a list of all of Conservatee’s physical needs.
- Make a list of all of Coservatee’s financial needs. Gather a list of the assets of the Conservatee.
- Discuss the Conservator’s bond with us.
- Have a list of Conservatorship deadlines on paper and in your calendar.
- Keep a Conservatorship notebook to write all things about the Conservatee, including a medication list, and physicians’ contact number, and local hospital and emergency room telephone number. Put a copy of your notes in your cell phone so it is always with you.
- See a sample of a conservatorship accounting before you get appointed as a conservator.
Reach out to us be telephone at 818.340.4479 or by Email: Info@SirkinLaw.com.
To obtain a Free Conservatorship Consultation, you may book an appointment with us here: Online Conservatorship Appointments.
