California Conservatorship Forms: GC-310, GC-340, and GC-350 Explained

The Form Packet at a Glance

A California limited conservatorship requires at least nine Judicial Council forms to start the case. The three forms families ask about most — GC-310, GC-340, and GC-350 — mark three different stages of the process: the petition, the court order, and the official authority document you carry to banks and hospitals.

All forms are free to download from the California Courts website. The $435 statewide filing fee covers the initial submission.

GC-310: Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator

This is the form that starts the case. It identifies the proposed conservatee, the proposed conservator, and specifically which powers you are requesting. For a limited conservatorship, you check the boxes for only the powers you need from the seven enumerated in Probate Code § 2351.5 — residence, confidential records, marriage consent, contracting, medical treatment, social and sexual contacts, and education.

The petition must include factual statements about why less restrictive alternatives (supported decision-making agreements, powers of attorney, healthcare directives) are insufficient. Under Probate Code § 1800.3, the court cannot grant the petition unless it finds the arrangement is the least restrictive alternative necessary.

You do not fill out GC-310 in isolation. It files alongside several companion forms.

Companion Forms Filed with the Petition

GC-312 — Confidential Supplemental Information. Collects detailed demographics, behavior patterns, and medical history. This form is strictly confidential and must be filed separately from the public petition — do not staple it to GC-310.

GC-314 — Confidential Conservator Screening Form. A background disclosure for every proposed conservator: bankruptcy history, felony convictions, restraining orders, and abuse allegations. Also confidential and filed separately.

GC-320 — Citation for Conservatorship. The formal summons and petition that must be personally served on the proposed conservatee by a non-party (not you) at least 15 days before the hearing. The process server files the Proof of Service section.

GC-335 — Confidential Capacity Declaration. Required when you are requesting medical powers. A physician or clinical psychologist completes this form, documenting the proposed conservatee's functional limitations. Cost ranges from nothing (if the primary care physician handles it during a regular visit) to $1,500 for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.

GC-340: Order Appointing Probate Conservator

You do not fill out GC-340 yourself. The judge signs this form at the hearing if the petition is granted. It specifies exactly which of the seven powers the court is transferring to the conservator — the judge may grant fewer powers than you requested.

The order also sets conditions: whether a bond is required, the amount, and any specific limitations on the conservator's authority. For limited conservatorships where the conservatee has no significant estate, the judge often waives the bond requirement.

After the judge signs GC-340, you take it to the clerk's office to obtain certified copies.

GC-350: Letters of Conservatorship

The Letters of Conservatorship are your proof of authority. Banks, hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies require a certified copy of GC-350 before they will recognize your legal standing.

Each certified copy costs money — typically $25 to $30 per copy depending on the county — and many institutions require an original certified copy (not a photocopy). Order at least four to six copies. You will need them for the bank, the primary care physician, the regional center, and the school district.

Ask each institution whether it requires a current certified copy of the Letters before presenting one.

Other Forms You May Need

FW-001-GC — Request to Waive Court Fees. If the proposed conservatee qualifies based on their own income (not the petitioner's), this waiver covers the $435 filing fee, certified copy fees, and court investigator fees.

GC-111 — Petition for Appointment of Temporary Conservator. Used only in genuine emergencies — imminent risk of harm — where you need authority before the full hearing. The court holds an expedited hearing, typically within days, and any temporary powers expire once the full hearing occurs.

Common Filing Mistakes

The most frequent reasons petitions get flagged by probate examiners:

• Attaching confidential forms (GC-312, GC-314, GC-335) to the public petition instead of filing them separately
• Failing to include the GC-335 capacity declaration when requesting medical powers
• Checking all seven powers by default rather than requesting only the specific powers the conservatee actually needs
• Missing the 30-day advance notice requirement to the Regional Center

Unresolved examiner notes postpone the hearing — in Los Angeles County, that delay averages two to four months.

The Bigger Question

Before spending weeks assembling this packet, California law requires you to demonstrate that alternatives were considered first. A supported decision-making agreement, durable power of attorney, and advance healthcare directive together cover most of the same ground as a limited conservatorship — without the $435 filing fee, $3,000–$10,000 in attorney fees, or ongoing court oversight.

The California Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a structured capability assessment that helps you determine which tools your young adult actually needs, along with step-by-step preparation for each option — from SDM agreements through the full court filing process.

See more California guides →