Last updated Oct 24, 2026. Facts checked against official sources on Oct 24, 2026; see the source links in each section. Court rules and fees change, so always confirm with the official source linked in each section.
Please read: general information only. This guide explains in general terms how a limited conservatorship works in California. It is not legal advice for any particular person, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It does not help you choose or fill out court forms. The court decides every case. For your own situation, contact your court's self-help center, legal aid, OCRA (part of Disability Rights California), or a lawyer. We can't answer questions about your own case, but the groups under Where to Get Help can.
The Short Answer
A limited conservatorship is a court case where a judge gives a conservator only the specific powers an adult with a developmental disability needs, and the adult keeps every other right. The judge can give up to seven powers, such as deciding where the adult lives or giving medical consent (Leginfo: Probate Code 2351.5). The main steps are gathering information, filing, giving notice, an investigation, and a court hearing (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships Overview). The petition must explain which less-restrictive options were considered (Leginfo: Probate Code 1821). Filing costs start at $435 (2026), and a fee waiver based on your adult child's income may be available (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships Overview).
In Taglish — Sa madaling salita: "Ano ba talaga ang limited conservatorship?"
Kaso ito sa korte para sa adult na may developmental disability. Ang judge ang magbibigay sa conservator (ang taong tutulong magdesisyon) ng ilang partikular na power lang, hanggang pito, tulad ng pagpili kung saan titira ang anak ninyo o medical consent. Lahat ng ibang karapatan ay nananatili sa anak ninyo. Puwedeng humingi ng fee waiver. Sa huli, ang korte ang magdedesisyon, hindi ang pamilya.
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1. Who It Is For
- A limited conservatorship is for an adult with a developmental disability who needs help with some decisions (Leginfo: Probate Code 1801).
- California presumes adults with developmental disabilities can make their own decisions. DDS says conservatorships for them should be limited (DDS: Conservatorship).
- Since January 1, 2023, the petition must list alternatives considered, such as a supported decision-making agreement, a power of attorney, an advance health care directive, or a health care surrogate, and why they are not suitable (Leginfo: Probate Code 1821). See Turning 18, Section 4.
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2. The Seven Powers a Court Can Give
The court may give a limited conservator some or all of these powers, and only these (Leginfo: Probate Code 2351.5):
- Decide where your adult child lives.
- See your adult child's confidential records and papers.
- Consent or withhold consent to marriage or domestic partnership.
- Make contracts.
- Give or withhold medical consent.
- Control social and sexual contacts and relationships.
- Make decisions about education.
If the judge does not give power 2, doctors and schools may not share your adult child's records with you unless your adult child agrees. (Not yet confirmed by an official source. Please check with your court's self-help center.)
Important: A limited conservator can make medical decisions only if the judge gave that power. If not, your adult child still gives or refuses consent for their own care (Leginfo: Probate Code 2351.5; California Courts: Rights of a Limited Conservatee).
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3. The Five Main Steps
The California Courts self-help site lists five steps (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships Overview):
- Gather information about your adult child, their needs, and the alternatives you looked at.
- File the petition and other forms with the probate court in the county where your adult child lives (California Courts: Start a Limited Conservatorship Case).
- Give notice to your adult child and to the relatives and others the law requires.
- Investigation. A court investigator and the Regional Center look into the case (Section 4).
- Court date. The judge holds a hearing and decides.
The courts say there are at least 9 forms, and some counties have local forms (California Courts: Start a Limited Conservatorship Case). This guide does not explain how to fill them out. Your court's self-help center can help with the process and forms.
It takes at least a month to get a court date, and it often takes months (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships Overview).
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4. The Investigation and the Regional Center Report
- Court investigator. The investigator interviews the person who filed and your adult child, and may talk to relatives. The investigator writes a report with recommendations for the judge (California Courts: Conservatorship Investigation and Reports).
- Regional Center assessment. With your adult child's consent, the Regional Center assesses them within 30 days after the petition is filed and reports to the court. The report is due at least 5 days before the hearing and is confidential. The judge is not required to follow it (Leginfo: Probate Code 1827.5; California Courts: Conservatorship Investigation and Reports).
- Probate notes. Many courts post notes before the hearing that list problems to fix (California Courts: Conservatorship Investigation and Reports).
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5. Your Adult Child's Lawyer and Rights
- A lawyer for your adult child. In a limited conservatorship case, if your adult child has no lawyer, the court must appoint the public defender or a private lawyer. Your adult child may ask for a lawyer they prefer. They pay if they are able. The law says this lawyer must be "a zealous, independent advocate representing the wishes of their client" (Leginfo: Probate Code 1471).
- Rights they keep. Your adult child keeps every right the court did not give to the conservator. Unless the order says otherwise, that includes deciding where to live, getting mail, voting, marrying, having visitors, making medical decisions, and controlling their own pay (California Courts: Rights of a Limited Conservatee).
- They can ask the court to replace the conservator or end the conservatorship, and they can make or change a will (California Courts: Rights of a Limited Conservatee).
- Least restrictive option. The judge can grant a conservatorship only after finding it is the least restrictive option. The judge must consider your adult child's abilities with current and possible supports, such as supported decision-making (Leginfo: Probate Code 1800.3).
In Taglish — Sa madaling salita: "May sariling abogado ba ang anak ko?"
Opo. Kung wala pa siyang abogado, kailangang mag-appoint ang korte ng public defender o private attorney para sa kanya. Ang abogadong ito ay kumakatawan sa gusto ng anak ninyo. Nananatili sa kanya ang lahat ng karapatang hindi ibinigay ng judge sa conservator.
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6. Who Can Be the Conservator
- The court generally appoints the person your adult child nominates, unless it is not in their best interests (Leginfo: Probate Code 1810; Leginfo: Probate Code 1812).
- A Regional Center cannot be appointed conservator in cases filed on or after January 1, 2023 (Leginfo: Probate Code 1812).
- DDS can serve as conservator only as a last resort (DDS: Conservatorship).
Two people, such as both parents, can serve together as joint conservators. If one dies, the other generally keeps serving (Leginfo: Probate Code 2105).
Planning for a backup conservator is in If something happens to me.
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7. Costs and Fee Waivers
- Filing costs start at $435 (2026), plus an investigation fee (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships Overview).
- A fee waiver may be available. For conservatorships it is based on your adult child's income, not yours (California Courts: Start a Limited Conservatorship Case).
- Ask your court's self-help center staff if they have any local forms (California Courts: Start a Limited Conservatorship Case). The court's guide says, "You do not have to hire a lawyer to become a conservator" (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships).
Your next step: Look at the alternatives first (Turning 18: conservatorship and its alternatives). Then contact your court's self-help center.
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Where to Get Help
- Local legal aid: the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funds independent nonprofit legal aid groups for people with low incomes. Enter your address or city in its finder to see your local group (LSC: I Need Legal Help).
- Regional Center, SSI, or alternatives to conservatorship: the Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy (OCRA), part of Disability Rights California, gives free legal information, advice, and representation to regional center clients. It serves clients of all 21 regional centers. Call 1-800-390-7032 (TTY 877-669-6023) (DRC: Office of Clients' Rights Advocacy).
- Court forms and conservatorship: your county court's Self-Help Center gives legal information to people without a lawyer, in person, by phone, or online. Services vary by county (California Courts: Find Your Self-Help Center; California Courts: Help at Your Court). Many courts give free help there with limited conservatorship forms (California Courts: Limited Conservatorships).
- Clients' Rights Advocates for Regional Center appeals: (800) 390-7032 Northern California, (866) 833-6712 Southern California (DDS: Appeal Information Packet).
- Disability Rights California: 1-800-776-5746 (DRC: DAC Medi-Cal).
- DDS conservatorship questions: (833) 421-0061. DDS also lists its Office of the Ombudsperson and the State Council on Developmental Disabilities (DDS: Conservatorship).
- Your Regional Center service coordinator (DDS: Regional Center Listings).
- Family caregivers: if you are, or want to be, your adult child's paid IHSS provider, see our IHSS family caregiver guide.
In Taglish — Sa madaling salita: "Saan po kami puwedeng humingi ng tulong?"
Para sa legal aid na malapit sa inyo, ilagay ang inyong address o lungsod sa finder ng Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Para sa problema sa Regional Center, SSI, o mga alternatibo sa conservatorship, tumawag sa OCRA (bahagi ng Disability Rights California). Libre ito para sa mga kliyente ng regional center: 1-800-390-7032 (TTY 877-669-6023). Para sa court forms at conservatorship, pumunta sa Self-Help Center ng korte sa inyong county. Sa maraming korte, may libreng tulong doon para sa forms ng limited conservatorship.
- Back to Caring for an adult child.