What is a conservator?

Connecticut law recognizes several documents that allow someone to make decisions or act for you if you can't do so for yourself. These documents include:

• Living will;
• Appointment of health care representative; and
• Power of attorney.

But what if you don't have these documents in place?

If you are incapacitated but do not have appropriate documents in place to allow someone to manage your affairs or make decisions for you, a conservator may need to be appointed by a Probate Court. More information about conservatorships can be found in the elder law section of our website. 

Even if you have documents in place that would allow your affairs to be managed in the event of incapacity though, occasionally it may still be necessary for a Probate Court to appoint a conservator for you. In order to maximize the chances that any conservator appointed is a person (or people) chosen by you, you can prepare a designation of conservator which is a document specifying who you would want your conservator to be if you need one in the future.