Conservatorships are designed to support people who can’t independently care for themselves. For example, a limited conservatorship can be helpful for individuals who need medical care but are unable to process or understand medical terminology or who are unable to communicate independently with their doctors. A full conservatorship is put into place for individuals who lack capacity and need high amounts of support in all areas of their lives.
Conservatees in full conservatorships are not expected to gain new skills or become more independent over time. Therefore, a full conservatorship is often permanent. If the conservatee has the capacity to make independent decisions in any area, then a full conservatorship is likely not appropriate. For example, if an individual needs support with their medical care, but has the capacity to choose where they live or who they socialize with, then a limited conservatorship or another less restrictive option may be a better fit.
For more information, check out our article Supported-Decision Making and Conservatorships 101.
