Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Care Arangements

Many parents and caregivers of persons with an FASD seek resources to ensure their loved one’s long-term physical and financial security, especially as he or she transitions from adolescence to adulthood.

In California, there are two types of programs so that the individual who needs others to care for or oversee their care has a legally-recognized (and legally binding) relationship with another person who may or may not be a biological or adoptive parents: guardianship and conservatorship. Guardianship is for persons living in California who are under 18; conservatorship is for those 18 and over. These systems have similarities and differences.