What is a limited conservatorship, and how do you get one?

A short note before you start

This guide is general information for the United States, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. "Limited conservatorship" comes from California law; most other states protect the same idea, a narrower, tailored form of substitute decision-making, under the word "guardianship." Confirm current rules, forms and fees with your state court's self-help site or a lawyer who handles these cases.

What is a limited conservatorship?

A limited conservatorship is a court proceeding that appoints a responsible adult to help a person with a developmental disability who cannot fully care for themselves or their property, but who does not need the broader control of a "general" conservatorship. California Probate Code Section 1801 states that such an arrangement "shall be utilized only as necessary to promote and protect the well-being of the individual" and is designed to encourage the person's development of maximum self-reliance and independence (Probate Code Section 1801, checked 2026-09-30). The judge grants only the specific powers the petitioner proves are needed; everything else stays with the conservatee.

Who qualifies for a limited conservatorship?

In California, it is available only for an adult with a developmental disability: one that began before age 18, is expected to continue indefinitely, and is substantial and not solely physical. The law names intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism, plus closely related conditions¹. It is not the right tool for an older adult who becomes unable to manage due to dementia or physical illness; that calls for a general conservatorship instead.

How is a limited conservatorship different from a general conservatorship?

A general conservator has broad authority over someone who cannot care for themselves at all. A limited conservator gets only the powers requested and approved, and the conservatee keeps every power the court does not hand over¹. Many limited conservatees still vote, choose routine care providers, hold a job, and make everyday decisions; the conservatorship steps in only where the court order names.

What powers can a limited conservator have?

California law lists seven specific powers a court may give, each separately requested and justified in the petition¹.

A limited conservator does not automatically get authority over money. A separate conservatorship "of the estate" and its own petition govern finances; a conservatorship of the person alone does not include managing bank accounts or property.

How do you get a limited conservatorship?

The process below reflects California's procedure; other states use similar steps under their own guardianship rules (see below).

1. Confirm the person has a qualifying developmental disability and that less restrictive options, such as supported decision-making or a power of attorney, are not enough.
2. Complete the required forms: a Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator (GC-310), Confidential Supplemental Information (GC-312), Confidential Conservator Screening Form (GC-314), Citation for Conservatorship (GC-320), Notice of Hearing (GC-020), Duties of Conservator (GC-348), and a proposed Order and Letters (GC-340, GC-350)⁶.
3. File with the probate clerk in the county where the person lives, and get a hearing date.
4. Serve notice on the proposed conservatee, close relatives, and the regional center, generally at least 15 days before the hearing⁹.
5. The regional center assesses the proposed conservatee, with their consent, and files a report no later than 5 days before the hearing¹.
6. A court investigator interviews the proposed conservatee, explains their rights, and files a separate confidential report.
7. Complete any required orientation before the hearing.
8. Attend the hearing; the judge reviews both reports and decides which powers, if any, to grant.
9. Pick up certified Letters of Conservatorship from the clerk, the proof of authority schools, doctors and agencies will ask to see.
10. Meet with the investigator about a year later, then every two years after, to confirm the arrangement is still needed⁸.

How much does a limited conservatorship cost?

Expect several separate costs beyond the court filing fee. California's statewide filing fee starts at $435, though some counties charge more; income-based fee waivers are available for the proposed conservatee⁶. Attorney fees typically run $3,000 to $8,000 for an uncontested case and $15,000 to $50,000 or more for a contested one¹¹. Court investigator fees, separate from the attorney, typically run $750 to $1,500, and if the case also covers the estate and needs a bond, the annual premium is typically 1% to 2% of the bonded amount¹¹. These costs can sometimes be paid from the conservatee's own funds rather than the petitioner's.

How does a limited conservatorship vary by state?

"Limited conservatorship" is specifically a California term. Every state has its own narrower, tailored substitute-decision process for adults, usually under the word "guardianship," and the names, forms and required findings differ. Confirm the current rules on your state's own court self-help site before relying on the details below.

Families with property or a member in a different state should ask a local attorney whether an out-of-state conservatorship or guardianship will be recognized, or whether a new proceeding is needed.

What is the role of the regional center or other disability agency?

In California, a regional center is a nonprofit agency under contract with the state that serves people with developmental disabilities. When a petition is filed, it assesses the proposed conservatee's specific abilities and limitations and reports its findings to the court; the court is not bound by the recommendation, but it carries significant weight¹. The relationship often continues afterward, coordinating services, housing and day programs regardless of who holds the conservatorship.

What should you consider before filing?

Since 2023, California petitioners must tell the court what less restrictive alternatives they considered and why those do not meet the person's needs¹⁰. Common alternatives, which avoid or reduce court involvement, include:

• Supported decision-making, where the person keeps full legal authority but chooses trusted supporters to help them understand and communicate choices, with no court order required⁷.
• A power of attorney naming an agent for financial or health decisions, available to a person who has capacity to understand the document.
• An advance health care directive naming a health care agent and recording treatment wishes.
• A representative payee arrangement, letting someone manage Social Security or SSI benefits without a court case.

A court expects to see that these options were genuinely considered, not just listed to satisfy the form.

What should you record in a family guide?

Whether or not a limited conservatorship is ever filed, a family caring for an adult with a developmental disability benefits from keeping the practical details in one place instead of scattered across email, memory and a drawer of paperwork:

• Regional center case number and coordinator's contact information
• Copies of any supported decision-making agreement, power of attorney or advance health care directive
• Diagnosis records and the most recent capacity evaluation
• Current medications, providers and communication preferences
• Certified Letters of Conservatorship, if one exists, and the next scheduled court review date
• Contact information for the conservator, co-conservator and the family's attorney
• Benefits received (SSI, Medicaid, regional center services) and the agency contact for each

This is the kind of information a family guide keeps organized and current, so a sibling, successor conservator or new caregiver is not starting from zero if something happens to the primary caregiver.

What mistakes do families commonly make?

• Requesting every available power "just in case" instead of only what is needed, which can slow down or complicate the hearing since courts must grant the least restrictive option.
• Skipping the alternatives-considered step; petitions that don't address alternatives can be sent back or questioned¹⁰.
• Missing the regional center deadline, since the assessment is tied to the hearing date and filing late can delay the case.
• Assuming the arrangement is permanent. Courts review it about a year after appointment and every two years after, and it can be modified or ended if no longer needed⁸.
• Confusing this with a mental health conservatorship, a separate process for adults with serious mental illness. See our LPS conservatorship guide for that distinction.
• Not updating records after the hearing, since schools, doctors, banks and agencies all need a current copy of the Letters of Conservatorship.

When to get professional help

Most families benefit from a lawyer who regularly handles these cases, since the petition must justify each power requested and address alternatives in detail. Get legal help if the family disagrees about who should serve as conservator, if the proposed conservatee or a relative objects, or if the case involves an estate as well as a person, or property in more than one state. A regional center caseworker can also help identify whether a limited conservatorship or a less restrictive alternative fits.