Most people use the terms “guardianship” and “conservatorship” interchangeably, but there’s actually an important distinction. Adult guardianship and conservatorship are two examples of this. A conservator manages the estate of a person with limited capacity. Not everyone who has a guardian needs a conservator though. Conservatorship vs. Guardianship. Conservatorship vs. On April 16, 2019, Governor Bryant signed the “Mississippi Guardianship and Conservatorship Act” into law. In some states, conservatorships are called adult guardianships, but the terms mean roughly the same thing. Laws governing adult guardianship and/or conservatorship are enacted at the state level, meaning each state may have slightly different definitions, requirements, and procedures. Also, not everyone with limited capacity needs a guardian. An estate includes things like: Money A guardian may have custody of a child, manage the child’s assets, or both. Often times, the terms “guardianship” and “conservatorship” are used interchangeably, and in California, the general purposes underlying the two roles is identical: to establish legal decision-making authority in an individual over another person and/or person’s property. For the rest of this article, we will use the term "conservatorship" to refer to adult guardianships and conservatorships. A guardianship, similar to a conservatorship, is a legally established relationship between a minor under age 18 (the “ward”) and a responsible person or organization that is not the minor’s parent (the “guardian”). The conservator also manages other aspects of the conservatee’s finances including handlings debts, paying bills, and managing the cash flows. Guardianship comes into play when both parents are deceased, in the case of a child, or when the subject of … Adult Guardianship. Typically a conservatorship is more appropriate when kids are involved and when at least one parent of the child is still alive. Conservatorship would then only refer to taking care of incapacitated or elderly adults, correspondingly. The first thing you need to understand is the legal terminology used by the various states. Unlike in a guardianship, in a conservatorship the conservator does not have control over the decisions regarding the disabled’s body, health or medical care. Conservatorship vs. Guardianship – Understanding the Terminology. Every individual seeking appointment as a guardian or conservator shall file with the court a certificate of completion of the Supreme Court’s on-line training course relating to the duties and responsibilities of a guardian or conservator prior to the issuance of permanent letters of guardianship or conservatorship unless otherwise waived by the court for good cause. For your specific situation, it is best to look up how your state determines which would be correct for your situation. Conservatorship vs Guardianship. individual, the conservator, is placed in control of another individual’s estate. A conservator, guardian of the estate or conservator of the estate is also a court-appointed role, and the appointee may make financial decisions, but may not get involved in the person’s health and welfare. What is Guardianship? Here are some differences, why it’s important to name a guardian and conservator in your estate plan, and what happens if you fail to do so. Conservatorship vs. Guardianship. Conservatorship is like guardianship because it's granted through a court order. Similar to a conservatorship, a guardianship is created by the court to manage the affairs of the minor or incapacitated person. The conservator is only given power over the finances and possessions of the incapacitated individual. 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