Quick Resource Guide: Become a Conservator

How to:

California Court Self-Help Page: Helping a person with an impairment or disability: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/helping-person-impairment-or-disability

Sacramento County Law Library:  Conservatorship of an adult – person and estate: https://saclaw.org/legal_topic/conservatorship-person-and-financial/

The websites above explain the process, give definition to terms, and refer you to the correct forms needed to file with the court.  It also includes videos explaining the duties and responsibilities of conservators

Books

• • California conservatorship practice,  KFC112 .C34 2005, Shelf 109B.  This title is also available through OnLaw on the library’s research computers.
  • California Judges Benchguides: Probate and Conservatorship. KFC112 .C36, Shelf 108B
  • Handbook for Conservators. KFC112 .Z9 C35 2016, Shelf 108B.  This title is also available as an eBook (see below)

eBooks

• • Handbook for Conservators: http://courts.ca.gov/documents/handbook.pdf
  • Judges’ Benchguide on Conservatorship: Appointment and Powers of Conservator http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/protem/pubs/bg300.pdf
  • Judges’ Benchguide on Conservatorship Proceedings: http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/protem/pubs/bg301.pdf

Forms

• • Conservatorship Court Forms: https://www.courts.ca.gov/1302.htm
  • Alameda County Local Conservatorship Forms:  https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/divisions/probate/probate-rules-forms

Free Legal Help

Alameda County Court Self-Help Center

Self-Help Center website:  https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/self-help  Contact the SHC via phone or chat to ask a questions, make an appointment, or register for a workshop. The Self-Help Center does not take walk-in patrons, but you may make an appointment to talk to someone in person.

• Live Chat – Monday-Thursday, 9AM-12PM
  • Access via “Need Help” chat widget: https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/self-help
  • Login early. They may stop taking chats before the stated hours once reaching capacity
• Phones Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM
  • Call: (510) 272-1393, Mon-Thurs, 2PM-4PM
  • Voicemails can only be left during phone hours; Messages are returned within 5 business days
• Workshops
  • Limited Conservatorship Workshop is offered bimonthly. 
  • Flyer: https://www.alameda.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-and-filings/limited-conservatorship-and-guardianship-flyer_04232024_0.pdf 
  • Conservatorship Accounting Workshop, Zoom (bi-monthly): http://www.cccpllib.org/Court%20Accounting25.pdf

All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc.

• • 3137 Castro Valley Blvd, #210, Castro Valley, CA, 94546  (510)-999-7732     https://allforthefamilylegalclinic.org/
  • This clinic handles uncontested conservatorships (persons over the age of 18), and guardianships for minors

Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP)

CLASP offers a monthly, free clinic open to the public.  Volunteer attorneys meet with individuals for 15-20 minute consultations on the first Saturday of the month, except for January and July.

• • To sign up for an appointment call (510) 485-9933 on the first Saturday of the month between 10:00 am and 12 Noon.  At attorney will call you back that afternoon
  • The phone call from the attorney will be from an “blocked number” or “private party” – you won’t be able to see a phone number.  You must anser the phone, because if you miss the call, the attorney will call the next person on the list, and might not have time to call you back.

Hire an Attorney

BALI – Bay Area Legal Incubator

• • Address: 125 12^th St. Oakland, CA Mezzanine Level
  • Affordable legal services. Some attorneys offer sliding scale fees
  • In-take form available on website, and you can also read the profiles and get contact information for the BALI attorneys
  • Website for more information:  https://www.bayarealegalincubator.org/

ACBA Lawyer Referral Service- (510) 302-2222 x4

• • $40.00 for attorney referral and 30-minute consultation. Attorneys charge $200 – 400/hour for services
  • Can also self-book consultations online:  https://www.acbanet.org/need-a-lawyer/

California State Bar

The California State Bar lists basic information about all attorneys registered to practice law in the state of California.  In addition, the site also provides an attorney referral service for the public to find qualified attorneys in their county.  https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public

Updated 3.26.2026