How do you become a conservator in Ohio?

A conservator is a person is entrusted with caring for a conservatee. That individual takes on the role voluntarily and is given legal power to perform certain tasks for the conservatee. Usually, the conservatee is the one who chooses who their conservator will be.

It is important that the person who is seeking a conservator or a person who is seeking to become a conservator for a loved one files for the role in a local court in the county where they reside. On top of that, there are a few documents that will be needed including:

• A written statement that establishes that the conservatee is physically infirm. This document must come from a medical provider.
• A Social Security form that is completed by the conservator
• Probate forms
• A copy of the driver’s license or government ID of both the proposed conservator and conservatee
• A record check authorization for the proposed conservator

You will also be expected to pay any court fees that apply to the application.

When speaking about conservators, most people assume that these individuals retain their legal powers indefinitely. The reality is that the court has the right to terminate a conservatorship. For example, if the conservatee becomes mentally incompetent, then the person listed as power of attorney in their will may take over the role of caring for them, and the conservatorship may be terminated. A conservator also has the right to terminate their role at any time by resigning, but the role can be maintained if a successor is appointed at that time.

If you may become a conservator or are a person looking to assign a conservator, you may want to look into your legal options with appropriate assistance.