HLT POL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter N/A: Involuntary Commitment, Neutral Party

• School: UCLA
• Department: Health Policy and Management
• Course: HLT POL 100
• Professor: Marcy Boroff

Document Summary

When someone is no longer able to handle his or her own financial or personal affairs, the court can appoint an individual or professional to act on behalf of the incapacitated person. When a minor child is involved, it is generally called a guardianship. When an adult needs someone, it is called a conservatorship. However, states define these terms differently, and you need to consult an attorney in your state to determine what the law are and how they impact your situation. When someone is no longer competent to manage his or her own affairs and is no longer able to delegate someone to do it for him/her, a conservator can make the necessary decisions. A conservatorship provides a higher degree of protection for the conservatee than other alternatives due to court oversight of the conservatee. If someone has made plans in advance through powers of attorney, living trusts, etc. then a conservatorship might not be necessary.