California Conservatorship Timeline

The Standard Timeline: Three to Six Months

An uncontested limited conservatorship in California typically takes three to six months from filing the petition (Form GC-310) to the issuance of Letters of Conservatorship (GC-350). In congested probate courts — Los Angeles County being the most common bottleneck — this timeline can stretch to nine months.

Here is the week-by-week breakdown:

Week 0: Complete the capacity evaluation (Form GC-335 if medical powers are requested) and assemble at least nine standard forms.

Week 1: File the petition at the Superior Court probate division in the proposed conservatee's county of residence. The clerk assigns a case number and schedules a hearing date, typically 30 to 90 days out depending on the county's calendar.

Week 2: Begin service obligations. Personally serve the proposed conservatee with the Citation (GC-320) — this must happen at least 15 days before the hearing. Mail the Notice of Hearing (GC-020) and petition to all second-degree relatives, also at least 15 days before the hearing. Send notice and the petition to the regional center at least 30 days before the hearing.

Weeks 3–5: The court investigator conducts the in-person interview with the proposed conservatee, evaluates the living environment, and prepares their report.

Weeks 4–6: The court appoints PVP counsel (an independent attorney) to represent the proposed conservatee.

Weeks 2–5: If the proposed conservatee is a regional-center client or consents to the assessment, the regional center completes its assessment under Probate Code Section 1827.5 within 30 days of petition filing and files its confidential report at least five days before the hearing; backlogs can cause delays.

Weeks 8–12: The court investigator files their final report. The probate department updates "Probate Notes" — a list of any deficiencies the examiner has flagged in your filing.

Weeks 8–13: The probate hearing. The judge reviews both reports, consults the proposed conservatee, and — if the clear and convincing evidence standard is met — signs the Order (GC-340).

Weeks 9–14: The clerk issues Letters of Conservatorship (GC-350). The conservator completes orientation (if required by the county), posts any surety bond, and obtains certified copies.

Within 90 days of the order: The conservator files the Inventory and Appraisal of the conservatee's assets.

What Delays the Process

Probate Notes. If the probate examiner flags errors in your filing — wrong form revision, missing signatures, incomplete service — the judge will not rule until the notes are cleared. Each round of corrections can add two to four months.

Regional center backlogs. The statutory 30-day assessment window is a target, not a guarantee. Regional centers facing high caseloads may take longer, and a missing report means the judge will continue the hearing.

Contest. If the proposed conservatee opposes the petition through their PVP attorney, or if a family member files an objection, the case enters contested litigation. Contested matters add months and sometimes years, with costs escalating dramatically.

Emergency Temporary Conservatorship

If the proposed conservatee faces an immediate threat — active financial exploitation, medical emergency requiring consent, or imminent danger — the petitioner can file for an Emergency Temporary Conservatorship (Form GC-111).

A temporary conservatorship can be granted on an expedited basis, sometimes within days. It provides interim authority while the full petition is processed; its duration and any extension depend on the court's order and applicable law.

Filing a temporary petition adds to costs and requires showing genuine emergency — not just urgency. A parent's anxiety about the 18th birthday approaching does not qualify. Active exploitation, an imminent medical procedure requiring consent, or the proposed conservatee being in immediate physical danger does.

County Variations

Los Angeles County: All probate conservatorship filings are centralized at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Mandatory e-filing for represented parties. Hearing dates are typically further out than other counties due to caseload volume.

San Diego County: Files at the Central Courthouse Probate Business Office. Non-professional conservators must complete an approved orientation class within six months of appointment, though limited conservators of the person are explicitly exempt.

Santa Clara and San Francisco: Require additional local forms beyond the statewide Judicial Council packet. Check local court rules before filing.

Planning Backward from 18

If your child is approaching their 18th birthday and you have determined a conservatorship is necessary, file the petition 60 days before the birthday — the maximum allowed pre-filing window. This gives the court investigator and, when applicable, the regional center time to complete assessments, with a realistic hearing date shortly after the birthday.

If the birthday is less than two months away and you have not yet started, consider executing private planning instruments (AHCD, DPA, SDMA) on the birthday for immediate coverage, then filing the conservatorship petition for longer-term authority. This hybrid approach ensures no gap in decision-making access.

The California Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes the eight-month planning timeline and the complete pre-filing checklist that keeps your petition on track.

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