The Estate Lawyers, APC, founded in 2005, is a litigation-only firm that has more than 150 years of combined trial experience. We represent families in establishing conservatorships, contesting abusive ones, and seeking removal of conservators who mismanage assets.
When a senior or vulnerable adult can no longer manage their daily affairs, finances, or medical decisions, families in San Diego often need to seek a conservatorship.
According to the National Institutes of Health, only 1 in 14 elder abuse cases are reported, meaning thousands more go unseen. Working with a conservatorship lawyer can help families take swift legal action to protect vulnerable loved ones, secure control over finances or medical decisions, and prevent further exploitation.
What Is a Conservatorship and Why It Matters in San Diego
A conservatorship is a court-ordered legal arrangement where a conservator is appointed to manage the personal and/or financial affairs of someone who cannot care for themselves.
In San Diego, petitions must be filed in the Probate Division of the Superior Court, and judges oversee both appointment and ongoing supervision.
Conservatorships are important because they protect elders and dependent adults from exploitation. But they are also among the most contested proceedings in probate court, often involving:
- Disputes over capacity and medical evaluations from medical institutions such as UC San Diego Health or Scripps Health
- Allegations of undue influence by relatives or caregivers
- Removal of conservators accused of financial mismanagement or self-dealing
Our Conservatorship Services in San Diego
We offer the following services across San Diego:
- Conservatorship Petitions
- Contested Conservatorships
- Temporary Conservatorships
- Conservator Appointments and Removals
- Accountings and Financial Oversight
- Elder Financial Abuse Claims
- Capacity/Competency Disputes
- Modification/Termination of Conservatorships
- Real Estate and Asset Protection
- Court Representation and Mediation
- Conservator Guidance and Compliance
Trusted by Estate Planning Professionals & Families
When Trusts & Estates Face Disputes
Contact UsYour Trusted Legal Partners in San Diego
The Estate Lawyers, APC is Southern California’s premier litigation law firm, dedicated exclusively to trust, probate, and elder law disputes.
Founded in July 2005, our firm is led by a team with more than 150 years of combined courtroom experience. We do not draft wills or trusts, we litigate.
Our practice is focused on protecting vulnerable adults, preserving estates, and holding fiduciaries accountable. In San Diego, we regularly appear in the Superior Court Probate Division, advocating for families in contested conservatorships, removal petitions, and elder abuse cases.
Trusted Conservatorship Lawyers for San Diego Families
Here’s why families across San Diego choose The Estate Lawyers, APC:
Litigation-Only Focus: We exclusively handle probate, trust, and conservatorship disputes.
Attorney-Led Representation: Every client works directly with an experienced trial attorney, not junior associates.
Proven Trial Experience: Our team brings 150+ years of combined courtroom success in intricate estate and conservatorship cases.
Focused Strategy: A singular focus on litigation allows us to anticipate challenges and act swiftly when disputes arise.
Client-Centered Approach: We prioritize clear communication, accessibility, and a personalized plan for every client.
Local Experience: Deep knowledge of San Diego’s Probate Division and long-standing relationships with local professionals, investigators, and courts.
Our Conservatorship Process in San Diego
Conservatorships in San Diego are handled by the Superior Court’s Probate Division. At The Estate Lawyers, APC, we guide families through each step with efficiency and care.
- Case evaluation: Review of medical, financial, and family circumstances, with capacity assessments from UC San Diego Health and Scripps Health physicians when needed.
- Petition filing: Preparation and filing of a Probate Code petition with the San Diego Superior Court.
- Court investigation: The court may assign an investigator or involve Adult Protective Services to assess potential abuse or neglect.
- Hearings: A probate judge reviews medical and testimonial evidence before granting or denying the conservatorship.
- Oversight and reporting: Conservators must submit regular accountings and reports, often supported by local forensic accounting professionals.
- Contested cases: We litigate disputes involving undue influence, competing petitions, or conservator misconduct. When necessary, we pursue immediate removal or replacement.
Common Contested Issues for Conservatorships
The most frequent disputes in the San Diego Probate Court involve:
- Capacity challenges: family members disputing whether an elder truly needs a conservator.
- Financial mismanagement: allegations that conservators misuse or misappropriate assets.
- Undue influence: claims that a conservator or caregiver exerts improper control over a vulnerable adult.
- Removal petitions: families requesting the court replace an unfit conservator.
With the median home price in San Diego near $940,000, real estate is often the most valuable and contested asset in conservatorship estates. Disputes over property sales, management, or inheritance distribution are common in probate hearings.
Local Resources We Work With
Conservatorship cases often involve coordination with trusted medical, legal, and community institutions throughout San Diego. We frequently work with:
- San Diego Superior Court – Probate Division (Hall of Justice & Madge Bradley Courthouse)
- Adult Protective Services (APS), San Diego County
- UC San Diego Health
- Scripps Health
- CPA firms handling forensic accounting
- San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
Protect Your Loved One Today
If you are facing a conservatorship dispute in San Diego, the sooner you act, the stronger your case.
Call The Estate Lawyers, APC or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation at our San Diego office.
The Estate Lawyers, APC: Here to Guide, Here to Fight, Here for You.