2011 California Code
Probate Code
DIVISION 4. GUARDIANSHIP, CONSERVATORSHIP, AND OTHER PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS [1400 - 3925]
ARTICLE 3. Establishment of Conservatorship
Section 1821

(a) The petition shall request that a conservator be appointed for the person or estate, or both, shall specify the name, address, and telephone number of the proposed conservator and the name, address, and telephone number of the proposed conservatee, and state the reasons why a conservatorship is necessary. Unless the petitioner is a bank or other entity authorized to conduct the business of a trust company, the petitioner shall also file supplemental information as to why the appointment of a conservator is required. The supplemental information to be submitted shall include a brief statement of facts addressed to each of the following categories:

(1) The inability of the proposed conservatee to properly provide for his or her needs for physical health, food, clothing, and shelter.

(2) The location of the proposed conservatee s residence and the ability of the proposed conservatee to live in the residence while under conservatorship.

(3) Alternatives to conservatorship considered by the petitioner and reasons why those alternatives are not available.

(4) Health or social services provided to the proposed conservatee during the year preceding the filing of the petition, when the petitioner has information as to those services.

(5) The inability of the proposed conservatee to substantially manage his or her own financial resources, or to resist fraud or undue influence.

The facts required to address the categories set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, shall be set forth by the petitioner when he or she has knowledge of the facts or by the declarations or affidavits of other persons having knowledge of those facts.

Where any of the categories set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, are not applicable to the proposed conservatorship, the petitioner shall so indicate and state on the supplemental information form the reasons therefor.

The Judicial Council shall develop a supplemental information form for the information required pursuant to paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, after consultation with individuals or organizations approved by the Judicial Council, who represent public conservators, court investigators, the State Bar, specialists with experience in performing assessments and coordinating community-based services, and legal services for the elderly and disabled.

The supplemental information form shall be separate and distinct from the form for the petition. The supplemental information shall be confidential and shall be made available only to parties, persons given notice of the petition who have requested this supplemental information or who have appeared in the proceedings, their attorneys, and the court. The court shall have discretion at any other time to release the supplemental information to other persons if it would serve the interests of the conservatee. The clerk of the court shall make provision for limiting disclosure of the supplemental information exclusively to persons entitled thereto under this section.

(b) The petition shall set forth, so far as they are known to the petitioner, the names and addresses of the spouse or domestic partner, and of the relatives of the proposed conservatee within the second degree. If no spouse or domestic partner of the proposed conservatee or relatives of the proposed conservatee within the second degree are known to the petitioner, the petition shall set forth, so far as they are known to the petitioner, the names and addresses of the following persons who, for the purposes of Section 1822, shall all be deemed to be relatives:

(1) A spouse or domestic partner of a predeceased parent of a proposed conservatee.

(2) The children of a predeceased spouse or domestic partner of a proposed conservatee.

(3) The siblings of the proposed conservatee s parents, if any, but if none, then the natural and adoptive children of the proposed conservatee s parents siblings.

(4) The natural and adoptive children of the proposed conservatee s siblings.

(c) Unless the petition for appointment of a temporary guardian or a temporary conservator is filed together with a petition for appointment of a guardian or a conservator, if the petitioner is licensed under the Professional Fiduciaries Act, Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, the petition shall include both of the following:

(1) A statement of the petitioner s license information.

(2) A statement explaining who engaged the petitioner or how the petitioner was engaged to file the petition for appointment of a conservator and what prior relationship the petitioner had with the proposed conservatee or the proposed conservatee s family or friends.

(d) If the petition is filed by a person other than the proposed conservatee, the petition shall include a declaration of due diligence showing both of the following:

(1) Either the efforts to find the proposed conservatee s relatives or why it was not feasible to contact any of them.

(2) Either the preferences of the proposed conservatee concerning the appointment of a conservator and the appointment of the proposed conservator or why it was not feasible to ascertain those preferences.

(e) If the petition is filed by a person other than the proposed conservatee, the petition shall state whether or not the petitioner is a creditor or debtor, or the agent of a creditor or debtor, of the proposed conservatee.

(f) If the proposed conservatee is a patient in or on leave of absence from a state institution under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Mental Health or the State Department of Developmental Services and that fact is known to the petitioner, the petition shall state that fact and name the institution.

(g) The petition shall state, so far as is known to the petitioner, whether or not the proposed conservatee is receiving or is entitled to receive benefits from the Veterans Administration and the estimated amount of the monthly benefit payable by the Veterans Administration for the proposed conservatee.

(h) The petition may include an application for any order or orders authorized under this division, including, but not limited to, orders under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1870).

(i) The petition may include a further statement that the proposed conservatee is not willing to attend the hearing on the petition, does not wish to contest the establishment of the conservatorship, and does not object to the proposed conservator or prefer that another person act as conservator.

(j) In the case of an allegedly developmentally disabled adult, the petition shall set forth the following:

(1) The nature and degree of the alleged disability, the specific duties and powers requested by or for the limited conservator, and the limitations of civil and legal rights requested to be included in the court s order of appointment.

(2) Whether or not the proposed limited conservatee is or is alleged to be developmentally disabled.

Reports submitted pursuant to Section 416.8 of the Health and Safety Code meet the requirements of this section, and conservatorships filed pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 416) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Health and Safety Code are exempt from providing the supplemental information required by this section, so long as the guidelines adopted by the State Department of Developmental Services for regional centers require the same information that is required pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 293, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)