A conservatorship or guardianship is a legal relationship created and supervised by a court of law that appoints one person (the conservator or guardian) to provide and care for another person (the conservatee or ward) who is incapacitated or unable to care for themselves. For example, older persons sometimes need help managing finances, health care, and housing decisions due to the effects of aging, illness, disease, or injury. And if an older person has not appointed a power of attorney for health care or finances a family member(s) or friend may seek a conservatorship or guardianship. Because conservatorships and guardianships are also used for minor children, laws and courts sometimes refer to conservatorships and guardianships for older persons as adult conservatorships and adult guardianships to distinguish from those for minor children.

A person seeking a conservatorship or guardianship of an adult generally must file an application with the appropriate court (often the probate court) and demonstrate that the adult needs a conservator or guardian and the person seeking to be the conservator or guardian is fit for the job. The older person (proposed ward) is entitled to protections during the application process, including a guardian ad litem (attorney) to represent the proposed ward’s interests, and sometimes a jury trial on any disputed matters.

If the proposed ward’s family members do not agree on whether the proposed ward needs a conservatorship or guardianship, or on who the conservator or guardian should be, a conservatorship or guardianship proceeding may be time-consuming, expensive, and stressful.

Laws regarding adult conservatorships and guardianships vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the probate code or estates code.

In Ohio, conservatorship and guardianship are legal arrangements established through the probate court, where an individual (the guardian or conservator) is appointed to manage the personal and/or financial affairs of another person (the ward) who is deemed incapacitated. This can be due to age, illness, or disability. For adults who have not designated a power of attorney for health care or finances, a family member or friend may petition the court for guardianship or conservatorship. The process requires the petitioner to file an application with the probate court and prove the necessity of such an appointment and their suitability to serve as guardian or conservator. The proposed ward is afforded legal protections, including representation by a guardian ad litem, and may be entitled to a jury trial if there are disputes. Disagreements among family members over the need for or choice of guardian or conservator can lead to lengthy, costly, and stressful proceedings. Ohio's laws on adult conservatorships and guardianships are found in the state's statutes, typically within the probate or estates code.