A Conservator is someone who is appointed by a probate court to make health care (Conservator of the Person) and/or financial (Conservator of the Estate) decisions for an incapacitated individual. Prior to seeking a conservator you should consult with an attorney because the authority of a Conservator is more limited and restrictive than that of an agent under a Power of Attorney and a POA is usually the preferred mechanism to handle an incapacitated person’s affairs. Conservatorships can be expensive to implement, especially so if the person you are concerned about is not indisputably incapacitated. The Probate Court always appoints a lawyer to represent the person who is the subject of the conservatorship and there must also be a recently dated physical examination accompanied by a doctor’s report. The Conservator will have ongoing duties to report to the probate court periodically regarding the person’s health and finances. Under a recent change in Connecticut law in 2007, Conservatorship hearings must now adhere to the formal civil court rules of evidence making conservatorships less certain and more expensive.