Anyone can initiate a referral to the Public Guardian-Conservator’s Office for a probate conservatorship investigation. Referrals are appropriate when there is concern that individuals are unable to manage money or health care decisions have no legal arrangement in place and/or no one in the family to take over. 

The Office of the Public Guardian-Conservator is staffed with Deputy Public Guardian-Conservator-Investigators (Deputies) who investigate and confirm the need for our involvement. If there is no alternative remedy, a Deputy will petition the Superior Court requesting appointment as conservator. The Public Guardian may also be appointed if a private conservator is removed by the court.

Deputies manage the caseloads of established conservatorships and trusts.

Some of the duties include:

• Identifying and marshalling the conservatee's income and assets
• Creating a budget for expenditures
• Paying bills from estate funds
• Monitoring the quality of care received by conservatees residing in their own home or in supervised settings such as residential care facilities, nursing homes, psychiatric settings and hospitals.
• Providing reports and accountings to the Superior Court to verify care provided.

The Public Guardian operates under the authority and direction of the California Probate Code and the Alameda County Superior Court to provide conservatorship services.