Probate Code
Each state's laws enumerate certain duties and limitations for guardians and conservators. These laws tend to be lengthy and detailed. For a comprehensive understanding of them, including relevant exceptions and requirements, the statutes themselves should be reviewed. Additionally, state laws must be read in conjunction with the order of appointment of a guardian or conservator by the judge which may further limit the guardian's powers and responsibilities.
A guardian's powers and duties include the following:
- Whenever meaningful communication is possible, a legally incapacitated individual's guardian shall consult with the legally incapacitated individual before making a major decision affecting the legally incapacitated individual. To the extent a guardian of a legally incapacitated individual is granted powers by the court, the guardian is responsible for the ward's care, custody, and control, but is not liable to third persons by reason of that responsibility for the ward's acts.
- The custody of the person of the ward and the power to establish the ward's place of residence within or without this state. The guardian shall visit the ward within 3 months after the guardian's appointment and not less than once within 3 months after each previous visit. The guardian shall notify the court within 14 days of a change in the ward's place of residence or a change in the guardian's place of residence.If entitled to custody of the ward, the duty to make provision for the ward's care, comfort, and maintenance and, when appropriate, arrange for the ward's training and education. The guardian shall secure services to restore the ward to the best possible state of mental and physical well-being so that the ward can return to self-management at the earliest possible time. Without regard to custodial rights of the ward's person, the guardian shall take reasonable care of the ward's clothing, furniture, vehicles, and other personal effects and commence a protective proceeding if the ward's other property needs protection.
- If a guardian commences a protective proceeding because the guardian believes that it is in the ward's best interest to sell or otherwise dispose of the ward's real property or interest in real property, the court may appoint the guardian as special conservator and authorize the special conservator to proceed under section 5423(3).2 A guardian shall not otherwise sell the ward's real property or interest in real property.
- The power to give the consent or approval that is necessary to enable the ward to receive medical or other professional care, counsel, treatment, or service.
A conservator may expend or distribute estate income or principal without court authorization or confirmation for the support, education, care, or benefit of the protected individual or the protected individual's dependents. A conservator's overarching duty is to act as a fiduciary and observe the standard of care applicable to a trustee.