A conservatorship is when the court appoints an individual to act on behalf of a person who can not handle their own financial affairs. There are conservatorships specifically for adults and minors respectively. 

• Adult Conservatorship: The court can appoint a conservator or enter other protective orders regarding the estate and affairs of an adult person if the court specifically finds that the person is unable to manage his or her estate and affairs effectively for reasons such as mental illness, mental deficiency, mental disorder, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, confinement, detention by a foreign power or disappearance; and that the person has property that will be wasted or dissipated unless proper management is provided, or that funds are needed for the support, care and welfare of the person or those entitled to be supported by the person and that protection is necessary or desirable to obtain or provide funds.

• Minor (Child) Conservatorship: The court can appoint a conservator or enter other protective orders regarding the estate and affairs of a minor if the court determines that a minor owns money or property that requires management or protection that cannot otherwise be provided or has or may have affairs that may be jeopardized or prevented by minority or that funds are needed for the minor’s support and education and that protection is necessary or desirable to obtain or provide funds. Examples of this would be a child who is a statutory beneficiary in a wrongful death action, has inherited assets from someone, is entitled to receive life insurance proceeds, was injured at birth due to medical malpractice and will be receiving money which may jeopardize governmental benefits, or has a conservator who appears to be misusing my child’s funds.