Click here for more information on the Office of the Public Guardian.
HOW LPS CONSERVATORSHIPS ARE INITIATED
Because a Mental Health (LPS) Conservatorship is based upon grave disability as a result of a mental disorder, referrals to the Public Guardian's Office are accepted only from mental health professionals designated to evaluate for both the grave disability (inability to provide for one's basic personal needs for food, clothing or shelter) and the mental disorder. The two sources for qualified professionals to complete psychiatric evaluations and make referrals to the Public Guardian's Office are:
- Private and public acute psychiatric hospitals officially designated by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to treat involuntary patients.
- The Los Angeles County Department of
Mental Health and its regional offices.
If you, as a relative, friend, or other concerned citizen and believe another person needs a LPS Conservatorship, the proper course to follow is for you to contact the appropriate source and request an evaluation for grave disability and referral to the Public Guardian as follows:
- If the patient is in an acute psychiatric hospital designated by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to accept and treat involuntary patients, contact the treating therapist at the hospital and request an evaluation for conservatorship.
- If the patient is living at home or
residing in any other facility, contact the Los Angeles
County Department of Mental Health's Regional Office that
covers the area where the patient is located and request a
conservatorship evaluation.
CONSERVATORSHIP POWERS/DISABILITIES
Appointments
- (Re)appointed conservator (ratifying acts since termination)
- (Re)appointed conservator person and
estate
Powers - Placements and Treatment
The conservator may be granted the following Powers regarding placement and treatment:
- Power 4 – Open Residential: To place the conservatee in a private residence, psychiatric or non-psychiatric residential care facility, board and care, nursing or other State licensed facility where the conservatee has free access into or out of the premises.
- Power 5 – Open Acute Care Hospital: To place the conservatee in a portion of a private acute care psychiatric hospital, State or County hospital or hospital operated by the Regents of the University of California or by the United States Government, where the conservatee has free access into or out of the premises.
- Power 6 – Locked Nursing or Residential Facility: To place the conservatee in a medical or psychiatric nursing facility or other State or County licensed facility where the conservatee does not have free access into or out of the facility.
- Power 7 – Locked Acute Care Hospital: To place the conservatee in that portion of a State or County hospital facility or a hospital operated by the Regents of the University of California or by the United States Government or of a private acute care psychiatric hospital, where the conservatee does not have free access into or out of such hospital.
- Power 7a – Developmental Disabled Facility: Including a facility for the Developmentally Disabled under the jurisdiction of the Department of Developmental Services, State of California, or any of the Regional Centers for the Developmentally Disabled.
- Power 8 – Mental Health Treatment: To require the conservatee to receive treatment, other than psychotropic medications, related specifically to remedying or preventing the recurrence of the conservatee’s being gravely disabled.
- Power 8a – Medication: To require the conservatee to be treated with psychotropic medication.
Disabilities
The rights of the conservatee may be revoked regarding the following:
- Disability 9 – Driving: The privilege of possessing a license to operate a motor vehicle.
- Disability 10 – Treatment: The right to refuse or consent to treatment related specifically to the conservatee’s being gravely disabled.
- Disability 11 – Contracts: The right to enter into any contracts.
- Disability 12 – Medical Treatment: The right to refuse or consent to medical treatment necessary for existing or continuing medical conditions. The conservator may make medical treatment decisions for the conservatee for specific medical conditions listed in the Court Order.
Power - Estate
The conservator may have the following additional Power:
- Power 13: To manage and control the conservatee’s estate pursuant to Chapter 6 of Part 4 of Division 4 of the Probate Code, commencing with Section 2400. Any additional powers specified in Article II (commencing with Section 2590) of Chapter 6 of Part 4 of Division 4 of the Probate Code must be authorized by further court order after a noticed hearing.
Note: The Court may grant all or only some of the above Powers and Disabilities, check the specific order to verify which Powers and Disabilities have been granted.
QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ANSWERED WHEN REQUESTING EITHER MEDICAL OR ECT CONSENT WHEN A PATIENT IS ON A TEMPORARY OR LPS CONSERVATORSHIP
Q1: What is the condition that requires treatment or surgery?
Q2: What is the recommended course of treatment?
Q3: What are the predictable results if authority to consent to treatment is denied or delayed by the court?
Q4: What are the predictable or probable results if the recommended treatment is given?
Q5: Are there any medical alternatives available?
Q6: What are the attendant risks involved in the procedure recommended by the doctor?
Q7: What were the reasonable efforts by the physician and/or the facility to obtain informed consent of the conservatee?
Conservatorship Reappointment
Click here for forms related to Conservatorship Reappointment.
Other Court-Based Hearings Under The LPS Act
- Electroconvulsive Treatment (WIC 5327.7)
- Weapons Confiscation/Return/Restriction Lifted (WIC 8102/8103)
- Medication Capacity Appeal (WIC 5334)
- 180-Day Post-Certification (WIC 5300)
- Writs Of Habeas Corpus (WIC 5275)
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