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Guardianship and Conservatorship

Fresno Family Lawyer Handles Guardianship and Conservatorship Issues

Trustworthy advice to help you care for those you love

Estate planning attorneys have the often uncomfortable duty to remind clients that none of us is going to be around forever. But, if you have minor children, acting on this unsettling truism can give you great peace of mind. At Gates Law Group, A Professional Corporation, we help parents make provisions for guardianships for their minor children as part of their estate plan. We also assist named guardians who need a court order to assume legal authority over a child who’s been entrusted to them. Finally, we help in matters related to conservatorships for adults who lack the capacity to care for themselves. In all these areas of practice, we perform our duties professionally and with the utmost sensitivity.

How guardianships work in California

Under California law, guardianship refers to the authority of an adult over a minor child granted by the court. There are several ways that a child may develop the need for a guardian:

  • Both parents have died.
  • The parents are unfit and are a danger to the child.
  • The parents have lost the capacity to care effectively for the child.

There are two types of guardianships, which can be held by the same person or two different individuals. These are:

  • Guardianship of the person — Similar to the concept of custody, this type of guardianship empowers the guardian to make decisions affecting the health and welfare of the child, or ward. The guardian also has the responsibility to provide a residence for the child and to take care of the child’s physical needs.
  • Guardianship of the estate — If a minor child has inherited wealth, has recovered damages from a lawsuit, or has an independent source of income, the court can appoint a responsible adult to manage those assets for the good of the child.

Depending on the circumstances, living parents may still be able to have contact with the child during the guardianship. Also, parents who regain the capacity to care for their children can regain authority over them and custody of them.

Naming a guardian in your will

Parents can select a trusted person to be their child’s guardian in the unfortunate event of their passing and name that person in their will. It’s important to consult the proposed guardian before taking this step. It’s also important to understand that guardianship cited in a will is not automatically effective; the proposed guardian must go to court and ask for an appointment. The court is under no obligation to grant the request but generally gives substantial weight to the parent’s preference. If the child is sufficiently mature, the court can weigh his or her preference as well.

Conservatorship: guardianship for an incapacitated adult

If you are the responsible party in the life of a disabled adult, you can ask the court to give you legal authority over him or her. In California, this is called a conservatorship, but it operates much the same way as a guardianship, dividing authority over the person and the estate. However, proceedings to create a conservatorship are often much more adversarial. This is because adults who recognize their need for assistance can execute powers of attorney to transfer authority to someone they trust. By contrast, conservatorships often involve adults who are resistant to what they view as an intrusion in their lives and a loss of their autonomy. Other proceedings involve adults who have lost capacity so quickly that they can no longer execute a power of attorney.

Our family law firm provides representation for both sides of this issue. We assist persons seeking to become conservators, but we also serve adults who want to retain their independence.

Contact an experienced Fresno family lawyer for a consultation on guardianships and conservatorships

Gates Law Group, A Professional Corporation assists Californians with guardianship and conservatorship concerns.  Please call 559-432-9944 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Our firm’s main office is in Fresno, but we also assist clients from locations in Paso Robles and Visalia.

COVID-19 Notice

These are unquestionably difficult times. We understand the word "crisis". Usually, people do not come to us just to say hello. They come with their problems and we have to respond quickly. We understand they need help.

The problems do not stop because of the presence of the COVID-19. Assistance from our office will continue. We have the technology available to provide our clients with continued quality legal services in order to protect their interests. We can meet our clients virtually whether by telephone or video. We can meet our clients in person but with special arrangements and implemented safeguards.

In spite of the pandemic, life does not stop. You may continue to have legal needs. Some people will have greater needs than others. We stand ready to help whatever the circumstances.

Your continued faith in us never goes unnoticed.

Allowing us to help you is a privilege we take very seriously. Gates Law Group, A Professional Corporation Tough. Competent. Understanding.

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  • Fresno Office
    2445 Capitol St
    Ste 150A
    Fresno, California 93721
    Phone: 559-432-9944
    Fax: 866-740-6678
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