Programs, often offered by public guardianship/conservatorship organizations, that conduct court-requested investigations in situations where a guardianship or conservatorship petition has been filed and report their findings and recommendations to the court. In the case of child guardianships, investigators review and report on the qualifications of the people who are applying to be appointed as guardians. In the case of adult guardianships or conservatorships, investigators gather information from relevant persons in the individual's social network including family members, doctors, friends, neighbors, and others with knowledge of the person's needs and capabilities, and produce a written report with a recommendation for or against the petition which is considered by the judge in reaching a decision. Guardianships and conservatorships differ widely among jurisdictions. Guardianships pertain to children but may also address the needs of adults found to be incompetent by the court. In both cases, guardianships may be of the person or the person's estate. Conservatorships, where they exist, may be involuntary and address the needs of adults found to be incompetent by the court or voluntary addressing the wishes of adults who are competent but physically infirm; and may pertain to the person and/or the person's estate, in the latter case, depending on the conservatee's wishes. In some states, conservatorships apply only to an individual's property while guardianships address responsibility for the person.
No programs.