G1595

Conservator Responsibilities Financial Duties for Conservators and Guardians

Conservators and Guardians are responsible for the everyday oversight of a Ward’s finances and have specific financial responsibilities under the law. This is one of seven NebGuides in this series.


Development Team of
Eileen M. Krumbach, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska
Richard J. Bischoff, Professor, UNL Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies
Sue Fredricks, Executive Director, Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS), Omaha
Thomas K. Harmon, Attorney at Law, Omaha
Bruce A. Cudly, Nebraska Region V Services
Dianne D. Delair, Staff Attorney, Nebraska Advocacy Services, Inc.
Julie J. Hippen, Program Specialist, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Adult Protective Services
Marla J. Fischer-Lempke, Executive Director, The Arc of Nebraska
Mary Evans, Guardian
Sheryl L. Connolly, Trial Court Services Director, Administrative Office of the Courts


A Conservator manages the daily financial and business affairs of a protected person. The rules discussed in this NebGuide apply whether you are a Conservator only or are appointed as Guardian and no separate Conservator has been appointed.

A Conservator is appointed by the court to take charge of the Protected Person’s property.  A legal description of a Conservator is that of a fiduciary, or one who holds something in trust for another person. There are certain standards of care in dealing with the Protected Person’s assets which govern the Conservator’s action at all times.  Conservators should only make investments that are safe and insured.  

As a Conservator, you may not

Conservator Financial Responsibilities to the Protected Person

When the court appoints a Conservator of an estate, the responsibilities to the Protected Person include

Best Practices

You are not required to pay the expenses of the protected person from personal assets; however, you must disclose to those with whom you are dealing that you are acting in the capacity of the Conservator.  The best way to do this is, upon any of the drafts in the account, be sure that your name is listed as Conservator.  This can be set up as soon as you receive your letter of appointment.

Keep estate assets separate. You must keep the estate’s money and property separate from anyone else’s, especially your own. When you open a bank account for the estate, the name on the account has to say that it is a conservatorship account and not your personal account.

Make smart investments. Manage the estate’s property carefully. Remember that you are responsible to care for someone else’s property. Do not make risky investments.

Use interest-bearing accounts and other investments. You can set up checking accounts for everyday expenses, but the rest of the estate’s money must be in accounts that earn interest. You can deposit estate money in insured accounts, but don’t put more than the maximum insured by the FDIC in any one bank. It may be advisable to seek legal counsel before you make any investments or change any investments the Protected Person made before you were appointed.

Adhere to restrictions on how you can handle the estate’s property. Unless you have a court order, you can’t:

There are other actions which require Court approval before you may proceed. If you don’t get permission from the court prior to acting, you may have to pay back the estate from your own money and you may be removed as Conservator. Seek legal or professional advice about what the law says about sales, leases, mortgages, and investments.

Inventory estate property. If you are appointed Conservator of an estate, you must make and keep a list of what the estate owns. To do this, you need to:

The statutes require that you must provide a copy of the inventory to the protected person and to all other interested parties. 

Responsibilities to the Court

You must keep complete, exact records of every financial transaction of the estate. Use the checkbook for the conservatorship checking account to keep records of the money that comes in and the expenses you pay.

You will have to prepare an annual accounting report of:

Check the rules to determine the format expected by the Court.

A Court hearing will be held annually to approve the accounting.  During the annual accounting, you must provide a Certificate of Proof of Possession. These forms will be furnished by the Court.  When the Conservatorship is ended, there must be a final accounting to the Court showing all personal property received and dispersed in what you are presently holding.  When the final accounting has been approved by the Court, it will enter an Order directing that the property be distributed either via Will or other Court Order and providing you with a discharge of service.

Resources

Nebraska Revised Statutes, Section 30-2601, the Nebraska law regarding guardianships.

QR Code

UNL Guardianship website at http://www.extension.unl.edu/guardianship/ includes information, helpful links, and a calendar of educational workshops and programs.



This publication has been peer reviewed.


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2005, Revised December 2011