Conservatorship

When mentally ill family members aren’t able to manage their assets, it is natural to be concerned about their financial vulnerability. Joint checking accounts, trusts and representative payee are common strategies that families use to help protect a loved one. However, when a mentally ill family member requires additional assistance, Conservatorship is a helpful option for those who can’t manage their own financial affairs and need to be safeguarded from exploitation.

Most mentally ill individuals don’t need a Conservator – and appointments are only made when a judge determines that it’s necessary.

How We Can Help

At Zalkin Law Firm our expertise in Mental Health Law allows us to advise families who want to guard their loved ones from financial harm. We can explain the alternatives to you, help you to strategize the most appropriate path and then guide you through the process.

A Conservator can be a family member or other responsible person who a judge believes will act in the best interest of the person needing help. Families are often concerned that relationships will become strained when the Conservator needs to make difficult or unpopular decisions. As a result, family members are sometimes reluctant to serve as Conservator. Our attorneys frequently serve as Conservators to reduce friction among family members and ensure that relationships remain strong.