California Law Now Provides Flexible Alternatives to Conservatorships

California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1663 into law, providing Golden State residents with a flexible alternative to conventional conservatorship-based estate plans.

California Assembly Bill 1663 Helps Disabled and Incapacitated Californians

For years, disabled and incapacitated Californians found themselves in a particularly precarious position. While they might work, own property, and manage their own assets, a single court order could thrust them into a conservatorship, depriving them of the right to live life on their own terms.

While conservatorships are often a practical necessity, intended primarily to protect the well-being of disabled and incapacitated adults, they are often perceived as overbearing instruments that make it more difficult for vulnerable people to exercise control of their personal affairs.

Assembly Bill 1663, or AB 1663, establishes supported decision-making as an alternative to conservatorship. In general, supported decision-making provides incapacitated adults with the external support they need to make informed choices while ensuring that they remain entitled to exercise their independence.

How Supported Decision-Making Differs From Conventional Conservatorships

Supported-decision differs from conventional conservatorships in the following ways:

Decision-Making

In a conventional conservatorship, the conservator has the authority to make many decisions about the ward’s life, even against the ward’s wishes. Conversely, in a supported decision-making arrangement, the disabled adult may receive support from loved ones and state allies but ultimately makes decisions for themselves.

Court Oversight

Conservators and changes to conservatorships must be approved by the court. However, AB 1663 lets the disabled adult and their support network make changes without the need for extensive court oversight.

In-Built Protections

Under most circumstances, conservatorships are managed by a single, court-appointed conservator. In supported decision-making, incapacitated adults may seek help from multiple supporters who may offer assistance in different ways. For example, one supporter might help with money, while another might help navigate social relationships or employment.

Assessments

Conservatorships are usually approved and configured in accordance with specific diagnostic criteria. The court may, for example, consider a ward’s IQ and determine what they can and cannot do independently. However, in supported decision-making, the disabled adult has the opportunity to discuss their individual strengths and needs with their supporters. AB 1663 recognizes that incapacitated adults may have differing needs over the course of their lifetime and permits them to change the arrangement as needed.

Contact an Experienced Trust and Estate Administration Attorney Today

Gov. Newsom’s decision to sign Assembly Bill 1663 into law has major implications for estate planning in the Golden State. If you need help managing a traditional conservatorship or exploring the opportunities provided by supported decision-making, please send the Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. a message online, or call us at 1-800-756-5596 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

Related Links:

When You Want the Very Best for Your Loved Ones, Choose Us.

Experience and Expertise. Estate planning and post-death administration are all we do. Our attorneys have over 70 years of combined expertise in the field, and three of our attorneys have passed an additional Bar examination and peer review process to become State Bar Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Two of our attorneys also have Master’s Degrees in Tax Law, giving us unique insight into how estate tax and income tax will affect your family’s inheritance.

Customization and Attention to Detail. Before we create or update your estate plan, we get to know you, your goals, and what matters to you most. We take the time to listen to your concerns and attend to each of your unique needs and desires as if they were our own. When we complete your plan, we perform a detailed quality control process to help ensure your objectives are met. We also provide you with a personalized Owner’s Manual containing all of your important documents, and your Successor Trustee with a Manual containing helpful, plain-English checklists and easy-to-follow procedures.

Lifetime Relationship. All of our estate plans include a free ongoing service package. We take phone calls any time you have questions, perform free estate planning checkups every three years, and keep you abreast of changes in the law and planning strategies with our complimentary newsletters and educational seminars. And, when the time comes, we will be there to help your trustee and loved ones.