Conservatorship
When an adult can no longer safely manage their finances, living arrangements, or healthcare decisions — and no valid Power of Attorney exists — a court may appoint a conservator. Perine & Dicken serve as court-appointed conservators for both the person and the estate, handling everything from daily care decisions to complex asset management under judicial oversight.
Families with an aging parent or incapacitated adult who has no prior legal planning in place, or whose existing arrangements have broken down. Also appropriate when family conflict makes a neutral third-party conservator necessary.
What We Handle
- Probate conservatorship of the person and/or estate
- LPS (Lanterman-Petris-Short) psychiatric conservatorship
- Emergency / temporary conservatorship petitions
- Court inventory, accountings, and annual reports
- Placement in appropriate residential or care facility
- Real property management, bill payment, and asset protection
- Coordination with healthcare providers, attorneys, and social workers
How the Process Works
Attorney Files Petition
An estate-planning or elder law attorney petitions the Superior Court. We can refer you to trusted local counsel.
Court Investigation
A court investigator visits the proposed conservatee and interviews family members.
Hearing & Appointment
The court holds a hearing and, if granted, issues Letters of Conservatorship — our legal authority to act.
Ongoing Management
We manage all personal and financial matters with regular court accountings and family communication.
Why Choose Perine & Dicken
- Former Tulare County Public Guardians — deep court relationships
- Registered nurses on staff for healthcare conservatorship cases
- Meticulous court accountings, filed on time, every time
- Emergency appointments handled promptly
Trust Types We Administer
- Revocable living trusts (post-death administration)
- Irrevocable trusts and special needs trusts
- Testamentary trusts (created by will)
- Charitable remainder trusts
- Court-supervised trusts
When Families Choose Us as Trustee
- No family member willing or able to serve
- Family conflict requiring a neutral party
- Complex assets needing professional management
- Beneficiary protection from outside influence
- Named in existing trust document as successor trustee
Trustee Services
When a trust creator (settlor) passes away or becomes incapacitated, someone must take over as trustee and administer the trust strictly according to its terms. Perine & Dicken serve as professional successor trustees — providing the expertise, independence, and accountability that family trustees often cannot.
Estate-planning attorneys whose clients need a named successor trustee. Families where the original trustee has died or stepped down. Situations where beneficiary conflicts require a professional neutral.
What We Handle
- Trust asset inventory and valuation
- Beneficiary notification and communication
- Bill payment, creditor claims, and tax coordination
- Real property management, rental income, and sales
- Investment account oversight with licensed advisors
- Trust accountings and final distribution to beneficiaries
Personal Representative
When someone passes away with a will or without estate planning, their estate must pass through California probate court. A personal representative (executor) is appointed by the court to gather assets, pay debts, file taxes, and distribute the estate to heirs. Perine & Dicken serve as professional personal representatives when no qualified family member is available or willing to take on this responsibility.
Estates with no named executor, a deceased or unwilling executor, or significant complexity requiring professional management. Also appropriate when beneficiaries are in conflict or the estate involves real property, businesses, or disputed claims.
What We Handle
- Probate petition filing and court appointment
- Complete asset inventory and appraisal coordination
- Creditor notification and claim review
- Estate tax return preparation coordination
- Real property preservation and sale oversight
- Final accounting and distribution to heirs
Typical Probate Timeline
- Months 1–2: Petition, hearing, appointment
- Months 2–6: Inventory, creditor period, appraisals
- Months 6–12: Tax filings, asset liquidation
- Month 12–18: Final accounting, distribution, close
Complex estates, disputes, or real property sales can extend this timeline.
Our Track Record
Types of POA We Accept
- Durable Power of Attorney (financial)
- Advance Healthcare Directive / Healthcare POA
- Springing POA (activated upon incapacity)
- Combined financial & healthcare documents
The Advantage of Planning Ahead
Power of Attorney Agent
A Power of Attorney allows a person (the "principal") to designate someone they trust to manage their financial or healthcare decisions if they become unable to do so. Unlike conservatorship, this arrangement is created voluntarily — before incapacity — and avoids the court process entirely. Perine & Dicken act as professional POA agents for individuals who want an independent, accountable fiduciary rather than placing this responsibility on a family member.
Individuals with no appropriate family member to name as agent. Those with complex finances or healthcare needs that require professional management. Anyone who wants to ensure absolute compliance with their documented wishes without burdening family.
What We Handle as Your Agent
- Financial management — banking, investments, bill payment
- Real property management and transactions
- Healthcare decisions per advance directive terms
- Coordination with physicians and care facilities
- Benefit applications and government agency interactions
Representative Payee
The Social Security Administration requires a representative payee for beneficiaries who cannot manage their own Social Security or SSI funds. Perine & Dicken serve as SSA-approved representative payees — ensuring every dollar is accounted for, every need is met, and every annual report is filed on time.
Adults receiving Social Security, SSDI, or SSI who, due to mental illness, developmental disability, dementia, or other incapacity, cannot manage their monthly benefit income. Also serves veterans receiving VA pension benefits through the VA Fiduciary Program.
What We Handle
- SSA representative payee application and approval
- Monthly benefit receipt and allocation for housing, food, medical, and personal needs
- Annual SSA accounting report — 100% on-time filing record
- VA Fiduciary Program services for veteran beneficiaries
- Benefit continuation reviews and redetermination support
- Coordination with conservators, care facilities, and social workers
Our VSO Advantage
Monthly Budget Categories
- Housing & utilities
- Food & groceries
- Medical & dental expenses
- Clothing & personal items
- Recreation & quality-of-life expenses
- Conserved savings (SSA-compliant)
Our Nursing Credentials
- Registered Nurses with 30–35 year careers
- Former Health-Services Directors
- Geriatric care and dementia specialist experience
- LPS psychiatric conservatorship familiarity
- End-of-life care and advance directive implementation
Why This Matters
Healthcare Advocacy
Our team of registered nurses and former health-services directors provides something no other fiduciary firm in Central California can: genuine clinical expertise applied directly to client healthcare decisions. We don't just sign forms — we attend appointments, interpret diagnoses, evaluate care quality, and fight for our clients in medical settings.
Clients in conservatorship or under POA who have complex medical needs. Families whose loved one is in a skilled nursing facility or memory care unit and needs an advocate with clinical knowledge. Anyone facing major medical decisions without a qualified family member nearby.
What We Handle
- Physician appointment attendance and medical interpretation
- Skilled nursing and memory care placement evaluation
- Hospital discharge planning and care transitions
- Care plan review and quality-of-care oversight
- Advance healthcare directive implementation
- In-home caregiver oversight and management
- End-of-life care coordination and hospice transitions
Which Service Do You Need?
Not sure which fiduciary arrangement fits your situation? This quick-reference table explains the key differences. Call us — we'll help you identify the right path in a free consultation.
| Feature | Conservatorship | Trustee | Personal Rep. | POA Agent | Rep. Payee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requires court appointment | ✓ Yes | Optional | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | SSA only |
| Person must be living | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes* | ✗ No (estate) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Created in advance (planning) | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Covers financial decisions | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | Benefits only |
| Covers healthcare decisions | ✓ Person | ✗ No | ✗ No | ✓ HCPOA | ✗ No |
| Ongoing court oversight | ✓ Yes | Optional | ✓ During probate | ✗ No | SSA oversight |
* Trustee may continue managing trusts after the settlor's death. Multiple roles can be combined — call us to discuss your specific situation.