--- title: "Conservatorship & Alternatives for Families with Children with Disabilities" slug: "conservatorship-alternatives-for-families-with-children-with-disabilities" updated: 2025-09-19T20:45:58Z published: 2025-09-19T20:45:58Z canonical: "healthhub.cpcmg.net/conservatorship-alternatives-for-families-with-children-with-disabilities" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://healthhub.cpcmg.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Conservatorship & Alternatives for Families with Children with Disabilities ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/image-1DGFJAOB.png) [![Appointment Info](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/1650055438388-1650055438388.png)](/v1/docs/appointments-and-contact-information) [![Care Decision Info](https://cdn.us.document360.io/a196e2c1-0707-4b9f-8164-e8201c779cd7/Images/Documentation/1654467115781-1654467115781.png)](https://www.rchsd.org/wait-times/what-type-of-care-does-my-child-need/)

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 Navigating the process of conservatorship (or guardianship) can be challenging. For families in San Diego and Riverside counties, there are specific legal tools, local laws, and regional resources that can help you decide what’s best and get help if needed. --- #### **What Conservatorship Means & What Alternatives Look Like** - **Conservatorship** is a court order granting someone (often a parent or guardian) the legal authority to make decisions for an adult who can’t make certain decisions themselves. In California, there’s a distinction between *general conservatorship* (broad decision-making powers) and *limited conservatorship* (restricted to particular areas). - Under California’s recent reforms (such as **AB 1663**), courts must *consider less restrictive alternatives* before approving a conservatorship. Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is now recognized legally. Common alternatives include: - Supported Decision-Making Agreements (where the person gets help from trusted supporters to understand, evaluate, and communicate their decisions, but retains final authority). - Power of attorney or advance directives for health care. - Representative payees for financial benefits (e.g. Social Security). --- #### **Local Laws / Policies in San Diego & Riverside** - **San Diego County Superior Court** requires that less restrictive alternatives be explored before granting a conservatorship. SD Courts provide information on Supported Decision-Making. - **Riverside Superior Court** similarly has general, limited, and LPS conservatorship types, and has a *Mandatory Conservatorship Orientation* requirement for proposed conservators. - The **Department of Developmental Services (DDS)** statewide, including in these counties, has policies emphasizing that conservatorship should be used only when absolutely necessary and less restrictive options are not viable. #### **San Diego County Resources** **Legal Aid Society of San Diego - Conservatorship Clinic** Service: Walk-in clinic that helps with paperwork, understanding the process of conservatorship, and suggests alternatives. Location: Central Courthouse 1100 Union Street, Room 671 (in between Dept. 603 and 604), San Diego, CA 92101 Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM - Noon and 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM [https://www.lassd.org/conservatorship-clinic/](https://www.lassd.org/conservatorship-clinic/) **Supported Decision-Making Technical Assistance Program (SDM-TAP)** Service: Offers education, guidance, and tools for families wanting to use SDM as an alternative. Location: San Diego Imperial Regional Office 8880 Rio San Diego Drive, Suite 1015, San Diego, CA 92108-1634 Phone: (619) 688-3323 Fax: (619) 688-3296 Email: [sandiego@scdd.ca.gov](mailto:sandiego@scdd.ca.gov) [https://scdd.ca.gov/sdm-tap/](https://scdd.ca.gov/sdm-tap/) **San Diego Regional Center - Guardianship / Conservatorship Assistance** Service: For people with developmental disabilities, offers case management, assessments, referrals for guardianship/conservatorship assistance or alternatives. Location: 2300 Boswell Rd., Ste. 200, Chula Vista, California 91914 Phone: (619) 489-3200 [San Diego Regional Center - Guardianship/Conservatorship Assistance](https://211la.org/agencies/HxP3VEBOns6v2QGDfW1Jqrrig7qd8k/san-diego-regional-center-south-inland) **Public Guardian (San Diego)** Service: The Public Guardian can act in cases where the Court has determined someone is unable to make decisions; also investigates to determine need. Location: 5560 Overland Ave. Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92123 Phone: 800-339-4661 [https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/ais/Services/Public-Guardian.html](https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/ais/Services/Public-Guardian.html) **San Diego County Health & Human Services - CARE Act Program** Service: A newer community-based alternative focused on mental health (for people with high mental health needs), with support rather than defaulting to conservatorship. Phone: 1-877-734-3258 (Option 6 for CARE Act inquiries) [Care Act Program Flyer](https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/hhsa/programs/bhs/CARE%20Act%20Flyer%20Final%20Nov%202023.pdf) [https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/bhs/CARE_act_program.html](https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/bhs/CARE_act_program.html) #### **Riverside County Resources** **Riverside County Superior Court - Conservatorship Packet & Self-Help** Service: Offers packets (general, limited conservatorship, etc.), orientation classes, and a self-help center to support people through the legal process. [https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/self-help/conservatorship](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/self-help/conservatorship) **Public Guardian of Riverside County** Service: Manages conservatorships where ordered, especially when individuals are unable to care for their assets or personal needs. Location: 3625 14th Street, Riverside, CA 92501 Phone: (951) 955-1540 [https://rivco.org/public-guardian](https://rivco.org/public-guardian) **Self-Help Probate Services** Service: Workshops, form review, referrals, especially for those who are unrepresented. Available in several Riverside locations: Corona, Indio, Menifee, Palm Springs etc. [https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/self-help-probate-events](https://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/self-help-probate-events) --- #### **How Families Can Move Forward in San Diego & Riverside** Here are practical steps to take: 1. Assess what the child / young adult can decide on their own and where they need support. Using SDM or other alternatives first can preserve autonomy. 2. Gather information from the San Diego or Riverside Superior Court websites about conservatorship vs limited conservatorship. 3. Use self-help clinics or legal aid early. In San Diego, the Conservatorship Clinic is a good first stop. In Riverside, the court’s Self-Help Probate events and Legal Aid can assist. 4. Explore supported decision-making agreements via SDM-TAP (statewide) or through your regional center. 5. Get input from service providers (school, regional center, DDS), and disability rights organizations to see what supports are in place. 6. Monitor any conservatorship regularly: limited conservatorships and reforms require periodic reviews to see if they’re still needed. Local legal help and nonprofits are available - you don’t always have to go in alone. Laws are changing: keep up with reforms like [**AB 1663**](https://calawyers.org/trusts-and-estates/ab-1663/) in California and county-level new programs (like [**CARE**](https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/hhsa/programs/bhs/CARE_act_program.html) in SD) ## 📚 References This content was adapted from the [Department of Developmental Services](https://www.dds.ca.gov/consumers/conservatorship/), [California State Council on Developmental Disabilities](https://scdd.ca.gov/sdm-tap-resources/supported-decision-making-101/), [Superior Court of California - County of San Diego](https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/sdcourt/probate2/conservatorship), and [California Lawyers Association](https://calawyers.org/trusts-and-estates/ab-1663/). Reviewed by ME, Behavioral Health Committee, JW Patient Education Committee.