May 6, 2025 | Conservatorships
The highly publicized battle over Britney Spears’ conservatorship didn’t just capture international attention—it changed California law. For over 13 years, Spears lived under a legal arrangement that controlled nearly every aspect of her life. Her story exposed serious flaws in the state’s conservatorship system, sparking protests, social media campaigns, and ultimately, legislative reform.
Here are three major legal changes California made in response to the #FreeBritney movement:
1. Stronger Oversight of Conservatorships (AB 1194)
Signed into law in 2021, Assembly Bill 1194 dramatically reshaped how conservatorships are supervised. Before, many conservators operated with little scrutiny from the courts. AB 1194 changed that by:
- Requiring more frequent court reviews of conservatorship arrangements
- Mandating comprehensive reporting from conservators on a conservatee’s finances and well-being
- Imposing stricter penalties on conservators who abuse or neglect their responsibilities
These changes are designed to hold conservators accountable and ensure conservatees are treated with dignity and fairness.
2. The Right to Choose Your Own Attorney
One of the most shocking aspects of Britney’s conservatorship was that she wasn’t allowed to select her own lawyer for years. That’s no longer the case.
Under the new law, individuals under conservatorship now have a clear right to select their own legal counsel, unless they are found legally incapable of doing so by a judge. This empowers conservatees and provides them a greater voice in the legal process.
3. Mandatory Consideration of Less Restrictive Alternatives
California courts are now required to seriously consider less restrictive options before approving a conservatorship. This means judges must look at alternatives like:
- Supported decision-making arrangements
- Limited conservatorships with fewer powers granted to the conservator
- Temporary or voluntary solutions that respect the individual’s autonomy
This shift promotes independence and personal freedom, recognizing that full conservatorship should be a last resort—not a default.
Why It Matters
These legal reforms mean California is no longer using a one-size-fits-all approach to conservatorships. Britney’s story was a wake-up call. Today, conservatees have more rights, more protections, and more say in their future.
Contact Duisters Giarratano, APC if you have questions about a loved-one who needs conservatorship.
May 2, 2025 | Conservatorships
Author: Duisters Giarratano, APC | San Diego Conservatorship Attorneys
California's conservatorship laws have undergone significant reforms in 2025, aimed at enhancing protections for individuals under conservatorship and increasing accountability for conservators. These changes stem from growing public concern over abuses in high-profile cases and a broader push for civil rights protections. Here's a breakdown of what’s new and what it means for conservatees, families, and legal professionals.
1. Stronger Oversight and Reporting Requirements
Starting January 1, 2025, all court-appointed conservators are subject to more rigorous reporting obligations. Courts will now require:
- Annual in-person wellness checks by court investigators (not in all cases).
- More detailed financial accounting reports, including receipts and bank statements.
- Regular updates on the conservatee's mental and physical condition.
These new standards are designed to detect abuse or neglect early and provide courts with better tools for ongoing oversight.
2. Enhanced Conservatee Rights
The reforms significantly expand the rights of conservatees. Key changes include:
- A guaranteed right to legal counsel at all stages of the conservatorship process.
- A clear process for requesting changes or termination of conservatorship.
- Easier access to communicate with friends, family, and legal advocates.
- Courts are now also instructed to consider less restrictive alternatives before approving a full conservatorship.
3. Tighter Criteria for Establishing Conservatorships
Petitioners now face stricter requirements to demonstrate the necessity of a conservatorship:
- Required documentation showing attempts at less restrictive interventions.
4. Increased Penalties for Abuse or Mismanagement
To deter misconduct, California has increased civil and criminal penalties for conservators who:
- Exploit or neglect conservatees.
- Mismanage finances or misrepresent reports to the court.
- Block conservatees from lawful communication or visitation.
What This Means for You
If you are involved in a conservatorship as a conservator, conservatee, or concerned family member, it is essential to understand these new requirements.
Nov 23, 2020 | Conservatorships
In part 1, the court investigator came-a-knocking to investigate new conservatorship petitions filed with the court. What most people don’t realize, is the court investigator will visit again, and again, and again.
A conservatorship of the person lasts for the life of the conserved person (“conservatee”), or until the court terminates it (which is done by request of the conservatee or an interested party, if the proper circumstances are warranted). In Limited Conservatorships of the person, the death of either the conservatee or conservator(s) will end the conservatorship automatically (for more on the difference between General and Limited Conservatorships read here). During the life of the case, the court investigator will conduct a review investigation after the first year, then biennially thereafter. What does that mean?
Once a conservatorship is in place, the court must ensure it remains necessary and the least restrictive alternative for the conservatee. The court must also be made aware of any objections the conservatee might have and must ensure the conservators are acting in the best interests of the conservatee. The court investigator is charged with determining this information and reporting his/her findings to the court throughout the life of the case.
Probate code section 1851 states the investigator is to visit the conservatee without prior notice to the conservator(s). That means, the investigator will show up unannounced to your home, the conservatee’s day program, school or place of business. The investigator must interview the conservator(s) and first degree relatives to uncover any concerns and/or harmful situations affecting the conservatee.
If you are a conservator, it behooves you to cooperate with the investigator. Remember he or she is there for the conservatee’s benefit and protection, not to make your life miserable. If all is well, the investigator will bid you a good day and you won’t hear from him/her for another two years. As conservator, you will receive a copy of the investigative report in the mail. Most conservators express gratitude for the investigator’s services in ensuring their loved-one is watched over and protected.
Nov 23, 2020 | Conservatorships
You filed a petition in the probate court for appointment of conservatorship over a loved-one because you want to manage their personal and/or financial affairs. The idea being, the proposed conservatee (the person who cannot manage their affairs) lacks the capacity to do so. The conservator (the person who will act on behalf of the conservatee) would then be responsible for managing those affairs to the sanctification of the court.
What most people don’t know, is that the probate court employs investigators.
These investigators are empowered to be the eyes and ears of the judge. Their purpose is to follow the guidelines of California Probate Code section 1826. It’s not like the movies, and you likely won’t see an investigator with a huge camera lens staking out a house, but here is what you can expect.
What does the investigator do?
The investigator must personally interview the proposed conservatee and must interview any spouse, children, parents or other relatives within the first degree. The investigator must advise the proposed conservatee of the petition’s contents and that he or she must appear in court. Most importantly, the court investigator must determine if the proposed conservatee objects to the petition, wishes to be represented by an attorney and whether or not the proposed conservatee is capable of voting (voting rights are often taken away in conservatorships).
The investigator then submits a report of his/her findings to the judge for review, five days before the hearing. The judge takes the report under advisement and consideration in whether or not the petition for conservatorship should be granted. If the court investigator’s report cites concerns, the judge can address those concerns with the parties at the hearing and even deny the petition altogether.
Take away:
The court investigator is a mandatory and crucial part of any conservatorship matter. If you are a filing party or a relative in a conservatorship matter, it is a good idea to cooperate with the investigator. The investigator’s job is to ensure the conservatorship is the least restrictive option for the proposed conservatee, and in many cases, the court investigator is the only conduit a proposed conservatee has to voice objections.
