Conservatorship

Under U.S. law, a conservatorship results from the appointment of a guardian or a protector by a judge to manage the personal or financial affairs of another person who is incapable of fully managing their own affairs due to age or physical or mental limitations. A person under conservatorship is a "conservatee", a term that can refer to an adult. A person under guardianship is a "ward", a term that can also refer to a minor child. Conservatorship may also apply to corporations and organizations.

The conservator may be only of the "estate" (financial affairs) but may be also of the "person", wherein the conservator takes charge of overseeing the daily activities, such as healthcare or living arrangements of the conservatee. A conservator of the person is more typically called a legal guardian.^[1] In 2021, an estimated 1.3 million people in the U.S. were under conservatorship.^[2]

^ Grisso, Thomas, ed. (2005). "8". Evaluating Competencies: Forensic Assessments and Instruments (2 ed.). Boston, MA: Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. p. 309. ISBN 978-0-306-47343-2.
^ "After Britney Spears testimony, lawmakers push changes to conservatorship laws". The Guardian. July 2, 2021. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2025.

[1] Grisso, Thomas, ed. (2005). "8". Evaluating Competencies: Forensic Assessments and Instruments (2 ed.). Boston, MA: Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. p. 309. ISBN 978-0-306-47343-2.

[2] "After Britney Spears testimony, lawmakers push changes to conservatorship laws". The Guardian. July 2, 2021. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2025.

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