What Is a Conservatorship — and Who Needs One?
Recently, singer Britney Spears testified in court about the 13 years she spent in a legal structure called a conservatorship. In vivid testimony, she described her father and lawyers seizing control of her rights to make personal, financial, and legal decisions. How can this happen to an adult with a successful career, and why is this approach legal?
A conservatorship is a legal status wherein which a court appoints a person or persons to manage the financial affairs of an incapacitated or incompetent individual or a minor. The person may serve as a guardian as well, taking responsibility for establishing and monitoring the physical and medical care of an individual, including the management of their living arrangements.
That’s why the terms “guardian” and “conservator” are often confused. In some states, such as California, both legal structures are called conservatorship — the guardian role termed “conservatorship of the person” and the financial role referred to as “conservatorship of the estate.” In many states, though, a person appointed only to handle a person’s finances is called a conservator.
Why there’s controversy
While guardians and conservators are expected to act in the best interests of the individual in question, they have the opportunity to abuse the situation because of the often broad authority they are granted. A fundamental feature of many conservatorships is that the subject has little control over their decisions. A guardian may decide how the subject’s money is spent or managed, where they may live and what medical care they may receive. A guardian can even curtail personal liberties like the subject’s right to vote, marry, or carry a driver’s license, with or without court approval.
Because conservatorship can result in a profound loss of freedom and dignity, state laws require that it be imposed only when less restrictive alternatives such as conditional powers of attorney or formal shared control of finances have been tried and proven to be ineffective. In addition, courts may alternatively acknowledge a representative or protective payee, in which a person is appointed to manage federal or entitlement program payments on behalf of an individual, or a living trust, which can be set up to hold an older person’s assets with a relative, friend, or financial institution serving as trustee.
Sometimes a conservatorship is established for people who are suicidal or who struggle with psychosis, dementia, or intellectual disabilities so that they’re not able to make legal, financial, or medical decisions on their own behalf. Mental capacity is determined by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or physician with extensive experience and training in diagnosing conditions like dementia in older individuals. These determinations must be documented and verified before a conservatorship can be ordered.
As in the Spears case, a person can sue to remove the conservatorship. The conservatorship for a minor generally ends when a child reaches the age of majority, which is usually 18.
When the public became aware of Spears and her conservatorship, there was outcry that the pop singer was being denied due process. Experts agree that one of the most dangerous aspects of guardianships is the way that they prevent people from benefiting from their own legal counsel. Mainly, Spears resented how her life was too controlled, saying that she felt that the conservatorship has become “an oppressive and controlling tool against her.” The #FreeBritney movement arose to call attention to Spears’ story and urged support for legislation in California that would strengthen the right to legal representation for conservatees.
Conservators are usually responsible for preparing an accounting of actions that they’ve taken on behalf of the individual, filing it with the court each year. State laws and requirements need to be accounted for as well. For example, Florida law requires that a conservator receive court approval before selling real estate or personal property, while in Massachusetts, a guardian can’t admit an individual to a long-term care facility or administer certain drugs without a special court order.
If you’re ever asked to serve as a guardian or conservator, you’ll need to be sure that you have the time, resources, and patience to deal with the responsibilities of this position in ethical ways.