Dictionary of Law
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conservator :: legal definition


Conservator - n. a guardian and protector appointed by a judge to protect and manage the financial affairs and/or the person's daily life due to physical or mental limitations or old age. The conservator may be only of the "estate" (meaning financial affairs), but may be also of the "person," when he/she takes charge of overseeing the daily activities, such as health care or living arrangements of the conservatee. The process is that a relative or friend petitions the appropriate local court for appointment of a specific conservator, with written notice served on the potential conservatee. The object of this concern is interviewed by a court-appointed investigator to determine need, desire and understanding of the potential conservatee as well as the suitability of the proposed conservator. An open hearing is held before the appointment is made. The conservator is required to make regular accountings which must be approved by the court. The conservator may be removed by order of the court if no longer needed, upon the petition of the conservatee or relatives, or for failure to perform his/her duties.

See also: conservatee guardian and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abuse of discretion :: n. a polite way of saying a trial judge has made s ... partner's realistic ability to pay.
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
answer :: n. in law, a written pleading filed by a defendant ... emurrer general denial verification
appeal :: 1) v. to ask a higher court to reverse the decisio ... ng, as in "he has filed an appeal."
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
bailiff :: n. 1) a court official, usually a deputy sheriff, ... isdictional territory of a bailiff.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bankruptcy proceedings :: n. the bankruptcy procedure is: a) filing a petiti ... ankruptcy court claim in bankruptcy
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
challenge for cause :: n. a request that a prospective juror be dismissed ... remptory challenge venire voir dire
Chief Justice :: n. the presiding judge of any State Supreme Court ... nks of existing Associate Justices.
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
conservatee :: n. a person whom a court has determined because of ... and the like. See also: conservator
constitution :: n. the fundamental, underlying document which esta ... ts common law constitutional rights
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
creditor's claim :: n. a claim required to be filed in writing, in a p ... e also: claim in bankruptcy probate
declaration of mailing :: n. a form stating that a particular document has b ... other party. See also: declaration
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
enjoin :: v. for a court to order that someone either do a s ... so: injunction temporary injunction
equal protection of the law :: n. the right of all persons to have the same acces ... laws." See also: due process of law
estate :: n. 1) all that one owns in real estate and other a ... ife estate probate real estate will
executor :: n. the person appointed to administer the estate o ... sed decedent executrix probate will
fiduciary relationship :: n. where one person places complete confidence in ... handling. See also: fiduciary trust
file :: 1) v. to deposit with the clerk of the court a wri ... rrespondence and notes on the case.
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
guardian ad litem :: n. a person appointed by the court only to take le ... awsuit is filed. See also: ad litem
habeas corpus :: (hay-bee-us core-puss) n. Latin for "you have the ... nality of a state court conviction.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
incompetency :: n. the condition of lacking the ability to handle ... and/or represented by an attorney.
incompetent :: adj. 1) referring to a person who is not able to m ... n incompetency incompetent evidence
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
indigent :: 1) n. a person so poor and needy that he/she canno ... person who is very poor and needy.
injunction :: n. a writ (order) issued by a court ordering someo ... t. See also: injunctive relief writ
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
juvenile court :: n. a special court or department of a trial court ... See also: court juvenile delinquent
lapse :: 1) v. to fail to occur, particularly a gift made i ... eficiary devisee legatee trust will
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
letters of administration :: n. a document issued by the court clerk which stat ... estate. See also: executor probate
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
lis pendens :: (lease pen-dense) n. Latin for "a suit pending," a ... ob can be penalized by court order.
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
long-arm statute :: n. law which gives a local state court jurisdictio ... rt jurisdiction over the defendant.
mandamus :: (man-dame-us) n. Latin for "we order," a writ (mor ... mandamus. See also: writ of mandate
Miranda warning :: n. the requirement, also called the Miranda rule, ... me such a suspect? See also: rights
no fault insurance :: n: a type of automobile insurance required of car ... ling lawsuits. See also: negligence
not guilty :: n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have comm ... t guilty by reason of insanity plea
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
obscene :: adj., adv. a highly subjective reference to materi ... en I see it." See also: pornography
paid into court :: adj. referring to money deposited with the clerk o ... differences. See also: interpleader
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
petition :: 1) n. a formal written request to a court for an o ... dent. See also: divorce motion writ
pleading :: n. 1) every legal document filed in a lawsuit, pet ... nswer complaint demurrer plea plead
power of attorney :: n. a written document signed by a person giving an ... y, as in a real estate transaction.
precedent :: 1) n. a prior reported opinion of an appeals court ... to perform. See also: stare decisis
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
privileges and immunities :: n. the fundamental rights that people enjoy in fre ... t impinge on constitutional rights.
probate :: 1) n. the process of proving a will is valid and t ... e also: administrator executor will
process :: n. in law, the legal means by which a person is re ... service of process subpena summons
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
qui tam action :: : (kwee tam) n. from Latin for "who as well," a la ... technical violations and/or errors.
receiver :: n. 1) a neutral person (often a professional trust ... owing they were obtained illegally.
remedy :: n. the means to achieve justice in any matter in w ... gment provisional remedy settlement
respondent :: n. 1) the party who is required to answer a petiti ... "appellant") in the appeals court.
review :: n. the judicial consideration of a lower court jud ... ate court reversal reversible error
rights :: n. 1) plural of right, which is the collection of ... evidence. See also: Miranda warning
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
search warrant :: n. a written order by a judge which permits a law ... ble cause search search and seizure
small claims court :: n. a division of most municipal, city or other low ... od example of a small claims court.
special administrator :: n. a person appointed by the court in a probate pr ... or administrator. See also: probate
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
spontaneous exclamation :: n. a sudden statement caused by the speaker having ... et hit the girl." See also: hearsay
standing :: n. the right to file a lawsuit or file a petition ... so: actual controversy jurisdiction
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
subpena duces tecum :: : (suh-pea-nah dooh-chess-take-uhm or dooh-kess-ta ... ng a court order. See also: witness
summary judgment :: n. a court order ruling that no factual issues rem ... tion summary adjudication of issues
Supreme Court :: n. 1) the highest court in the United States, whic ... rt in other states. See also: court
trust :: n. an entity created to hold assets for the benefi ... testamentary trust trustee trustor
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
warrant :: 1) n. an order (writ) of a court which directs a l ... e search and seizure search warrant
will :: n. a written document which leaves the estate of t ... will and testament probate testator

Popular Law Searches

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what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
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Other Law Terms - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.