Legal Authority to Protect What They Built

When someone you love is making financial decisions that are destroying what they've spent a lifetime building — or when you suspect exploitation and feel powerless to stop it — a conservatorship attorney in Georgia can help you get the legal standing to act.

What a Conservatorship Actually Does

A conservatorship is a court-ordered arrangement in which a judge grants a designated individual — called a conservator — the legal authority to manage another adult's finances, accounts, property, and financial decisions. It is not a private family agreement. It is a formal legal appointment issued by the probate court, and it carries real authority to act on another person's behalf.

 

In Georgia, conservatorship is available when an adult can no longer manage their financial affairs due to incapacity, cognitive decline, or vulnerability to exploitation. Once appointed, a conservator can access accounts, pay bills, manage property, and prevent further financial harm — authority that no family member holds without a court order.

A Family Member Is Losing Ground Financially

Cognitive decline, dementia, or a sudden health crisis can leave an adult unable to manage even basic financial decisions. Bills go unpaid. Assets are transferred improperly. Accounts are depleted. Without a conservatorship in place, family members have no legal authority to intervene — even when the harm is visible and ongoing.

You Suspect Financial Exploitation

Elder financial exploitation is more common than most families expect, and it often involves someone the family already knows. A caregiver, a new acquaintance, or even a distant relative can gain influence over a vulnerable adult's finances in ways that are difficult to reverse. Suspicion alone gives you no legal standing to act. A court-ordered conservatorship does.

The Situation Is Moving Faster Than You Expected

When a financial crisis is already unfolding, families sometimes discover that a court can appoint a conservator without the family's input — a stranger to the family selected by the judge when no petition has been filed. Filing proactively, before a crisis forces the court's hand, keeps the decision where it belongs: with the people who know and care for the individual.

Why Families Come to Us — and When

Most families who contact us about conservatorship aren't filing paperwork yet. They're watching something go wrong and trying to understand whether they have any power to stop it.

How the Georgia Conservatorship Process Works

Conservatorship petitions in Georgia are filed in the probate court of the county where the individual lives. The process is more defined than most families expect, and with proper preparation, uncontested cases move efficiently through the court.

 

  • Petition filing: We prepare and file the conservatorship petition, identifying the proposed conservator and documenting the basis for the court's involvement.
  • Evaluation: The court typically requires a physician's evaluation or other evidence of incapacity to support the petition.
  • Bond requirement: Georgia law requires a conservator to post a bond — a financial guarantee that protects the ward's estate. We help families understand the bond amount and how to satisfy it.
  • Court hearing: A hearing is scheduled at which the judge reviews the evidence and, if appropriate, issues the order of appointment.
  • Ongoing reporting: Appointed conservators must file annual inventories and accountings with the probate court. We advise conservators on these obligations so they remain in compliance.

Conservatorship vs. Guardianship — and When You May Need Both

Conservatorship and guardianship are related but distinct legal appointments. A conservator manages finances. A guardian makes decisions about a person's care, living arrangements, and medical treatment. Many families dealing with a loved one's incapacity need both, and Georgia probate courts allow families to petition for both simultaneously in a single proceeding.

 

If your situation involves both financial vulnerability and broader care concerns, we can advise you on whether a combined petition makes sense and how to approach the probate court efficiently. For more on the guardianship side of that process, see our guardianship page.

 

Georgia also recognizes a limited conservatorship, available when an adult retains some financial capacity but needs assistance or oversight in specific areas. This option preserves as much of the individual's autonomy as possible while still providing legal protection where it's needed most.

30 Years in South Georgia Probate Courts

Bill Bass has practiced in Thomas County and the surrounding South Georgia courts for 30 years. He knows the probate judges, understands how local courts handle contested and uncontested conservatorship petitions, and can give you an honest read on what to expect before you ever walk into a courtroom. That kind of local knowledge matters in probate proceedings, where outcomes often depend on preparation, presentation, and a clear understanding of what the court needs to see.

 

We serve families throughout the region, including those in Bainbridge, Moultrie, Camilla, and Valdosta, as well as clients throughout Thomas County and the surrounding area.

Contact a Conservatorship Attorney Today

When a loved one's finances are at risk and you need legal authority to act, we're here to help.

Conservatorship Questions We Hear Often

  • How do I get conservatorship of an elderly parent in Georgia?

    You file a petition in the probate court of the county where your parent lives. The petition must document why conservatorship is necessary, identify the proposed conservator, and typically include a physician's evaluation of the individual's incapacity. We handle the preparation and filing, guide you through the hearing process, and advise you on the bond and reporting requirements that follow appointment.

  • What's the difference between conservatorship and guardianship in Georgia?

    A conservator manages financial matters — accounts, property, assets, and financial decisions. A guardian makes decisions about personal care, living arrangements, and medical treatment. These are separate appointments, but Georgia probate courts allow families to petition for both at the same time when a loved one needs protection in both areas.

  • Can a conservator be appointed without the family's involvement?

    Yes. If no petition is filed and a financial crisis occurs, a Georgia court can appoint a conservator on its own — including someone the family does not know. Filing a petition proactively keeps the decision with the people who know the individual and have their best interests at heart.

  • What is a limited conservatorship in Georgia?

    A limited conservatorship grants authority over specific financial matters rather than full control over all of a person's finances. It is available when an adult retains some capacity to manage their affairs but needs legal oversight or assistance in defined areas. It is designed to preserve as much independence as possible while still providing meaningful protection.

  • How long does the conservatorship process take in Georgia?

    Uncontested conservatorship cases in Georgia probate court typically resolve within a few weeks to a few months, depending on the court's schedule and how quickly required evaluations are completed. Contested cases take longer. We prepare petitions thoroughly to minimize delays and help families understand what to expect at each stage.

Start with a free consultation

You don't have to have everything figured out before you call. Most people who contact us are in the middle of something hard and aren't sure what their options are. That's exactly where we start.


Call us at (229) 233-4228, use the contact form, or book a Zoom consultation at a time that works for you.