Attorneys Providing Guardianship Solutions in Vallejo and Fairfield-Suisun

What is a conservatorship?

At the law firm of Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC, our lawyers help individuals suffering from impaired mental capacity due to advancing age, illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, brain injury and other conditions. We work with families of those who become incapacitated without the proper estate planning documents in place. California law requires the establishment of conservatorships, also known as guardianships, to designate a loved one or other trusted party who can manage the financial affairs of an incapacitated individual and make health care and other decisions with his or her best interests in mind. The term conservatorship is more widely used in California when talking about the elderly or impaired, as guardianship typically refers to custody of children under 18 years old.

If the court appoints you as conservator of an estate, our law firm has the experience you need to help advise you of your fiduciary duties and obligations. We also assist clients in guardianship proceedings and can help you take the necessary steps to establish a conservatorship for your loved one if he or she requires it.

Types of guardianships

In Fairfield-Suisun, Vallejo and throughout California, there are two types of conservatorships available:

  • Conservator of the person — Responsible for providing the incapacitated individual (the conservatee) with adequate healthcare, food, shelter, clothing, social interaction and quality of life/sources of enjoyment.
  • Conservator of the estate — Responsible for managing the conservatee’s finances, property and other assets in a way that supports the conservatee and carries out his or her wishes as accurately as possible in regards to estate planning. Certain conservatorships of an estate also allow the conservator to manage the conservatee’s business matters and interests when appropriate.

One conservator may be appointed to both roles, or two individuals may split the responsibilities. Sometimes conservatorships of the person are entrusted to immediate family members or loved ones, while conservatorships of the estate are entrusted to professional financial experts or attorneys who frequently deal with elder law and Medicaid issues.

Are you currently serving in a guardianship role?

The role of conservator is not one you should take lightly. As a close relative or friend of the conservatee, your willingness to help with these and other issues is admirable. But court appointment in a guardianship role places you in a position of potentially great responsibility. Every act you make on behalf of the conservatee must comply with the law and honor his or her best interests. Appointment as a conservator permits you to make decisions for a conservatee; but there are certain situations requiring approval from a judge. An attorney from Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC can advise you and guide you through all legal requirements of this important responsibility.

Choose an experienced representative who can handle your guardianship issue

Whether you’re trying to set up a conservatorship for your loved one or are looking for guidance in your role as conservator, the lawyers of Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC are ready to help. To learn more about our services, call our law firm at 707-552-3630 or contact us online today.

Our attorneys are available at your convenience and gladly schedule appointments outside normal workday hours. We offer language services for a diverse client base and have Spanish, Tagalog and Ilocano speakers on our staff. Favaro, Lavezzo, Gill, Caretti & Heppell, PC provides legal services to clients located throughout Northern California; we maintain offices in Vallejo and Fairfield-Suisun, allowing us easy access to Solano County, Contra Costa County and Napa County.