Montana Protective Order and Order Appointing Conservator

A conservatorship may be established after a relative, friend, or public official petitions the court for appointment of a conservator. The petition must contain information on why the individual cannot manage his or her financial affairs or make appropriate decisions concerning his or her personal care.

A conservatorship is necessary for those individuals who have neither a power of attorney or healthcare directive, and have lost the ability to make informed decisions and/or care for themselves. A conservatorship may also be necessary for other reasons, such as an invalid or fraudulent power of attorney document.

The out-of-pocket costs to begin a conservatorship are the filing fee, which ranges from $278 to $1,176 (in 2019) depending on the amount of assets, plus the expenses for having the respondent personally served, getting certified copies from the court, etc., which are usually around $200.

"Petitioner" refers to the party who petitioned the Supreme Court to review the case. This party is variously known as the petitioner or the appellant. "Respondent" refers to the party being sued or tried and is also known as the appellee.

A conservatorship is a court case where a judge appoints a responsible person or organization (called the conservator) to care for another adult (called the conservatee) who cannot care for himself or herself or manage his or her own finances.

Fix the residence or specific dwelling of the young adult child. Have access to the confidential records and papers of the young adult child. Control the right of the young adult child's right to enter into contracts. Give or withhold medical consent regarding the young adult child.

In many states, a guardianship gives a person control over the personal, day-to-day decisions of a ward, while a conservatorship provides the authority to control another person's financial decisions.

How is a guardianship or conservatorship set up? Someone interested in the individual's welfare must file a petition in Superior Court, Probate Division, requesting appointment of a guardian or conservator. Once the petition is reviewed by the Probate Division and accepted for filing, a hearing is scheduled.

The protected person is called the Petitioner. The Petitioner must file a Petition in a court of record, against the other person, called the Respondent. This Instruction booklet explains how to fill out forms for a case in which the Petitioner is seeking protection for himself or herself, not on behalf of a child.