Site Navigation

• 4th District Home

• Site Map
• Contact Us

• District Administration

  • Court Records Imaging Project
  • eFile and eServe
  • Research Department
  • Standing Orders and Policies

• Judges & Referees

• Tickets & Fines
• ________________

• Courts

  • Calendars
  • Going to Court
  • Civil Court
  • Conciliation Court
  • Criminal Court
  • Family Court
  • Housing Court
  • Juvenile Court
  • Probate / Mental Health Court

• ________________

• Careers / Human Resources

• Fees
• Forms
• Jury Service
• Legal Terms
• News & Media

• Programs, Services & Initiatives

  • Court Reporter Unit
  • Domestic Abuse Service Center
  • Guardian Ad Litem Program
  • Initiatives
  • Interpreter Services
  • Limited English Proficiency Plan
  • Psychological Services Division

• Records Center
• Self-Help Centers
• ________________

• Resources in Other Languages

  • Hmong / Hmoob
  • Somali / Soomaali
  • Spanish / Español

• ________________
• For Staff Only

Guardianship / Conservatorship

What is guardianship?

A legal arrangement under which a guardian who is appointed by a court, has the legal right and duty to care for another person (the "ward") because of the person’s inability to legally act on his or her own behalf due to minority or mental or physical incapacity. See also Annual Reporting Duties - Guardians.

What is conservatorship?

A conservatorship is similar to a guardianship except that the conservator who has been appointed by the court has powers and duties over the incapacitated person’s estate. See also Annual Reporting Duties - Conservators.

Who are wards?

Wards are minors or incapacitated adults who have a court appointed guardian, lack sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible personal decisions, and who have an inability to meet personal needs for medical care, nutrition, clothing, shelter, or safety.

Who are protected persons?

Protected persons are those individuals who have had conservators appointed for them because they lack similar capacity and have demonstrated an inability to make decisions regarding their financial affairs or estate.

Court Forms

---

MN Court Forms - Guardianship / Conservatorship

NOTE: The MN Judicial Branch does not publish instructions for every guardianship or conservatorship form, but you can learn about the process by reading the Conservatorship & Guardianship Manual. You should talk with a lawyer to find out which specific forms to use in your situation and the procedures involved. Court Administartion can tell you about the fees that must be paid. Another good resource for finding forms and how-to information on legal issues is your local law library.

• Oath and Acceptance Form for Guardians/Conservators (#GAC-1U) (District 4 - Hennepin)
• Fee Waiver Court Forms - People with low incomes may ask the court to waive some court fees.
• Power of Attorney Form (non-court form)
• Annual Reports - Conservators must use CAMPER to e-file their reports with the court online.

Law & Rules

---

The following is a list of some of the laws and rules that relate to Guardianship/Conservatorship cases. We encourage you to talk with a lawyer to get advice on how the laws and rules may affect your case. Learn more about Law, Rules & Legal Research at our online Self-Help Center.

• MN Statute § 524.5-120 - Bill of Rights for Wards and Proctected Persons

• MN Statute § 524.5-313 - Powers and Duties of a Guardian
• MN Statute § 524.5-316 - Annual Reporting Requirements of a Guardian
• MN Statute § 524.5-417 - General Powers and Duties of a Conservator
• MN Statute § 524.5-420 - Annual Reporting Requirements of a Conservator
• MN Court Rules - Guardianship / Conservatorship
• MN Court Rules - Probate Court

Resources on Guardianship & Conservatorship

---

• A Manual on Guardianship and Conservatorship in Minnesota
  This is a manual published by the Minnesota Judicial Branch and written especially for non-lawyers. The manual only addresses guardianship and conservatorship of adults, NOT minors. The law on guardianship and conservatorship is very complex. We encourage you to talk with a lawyer to get legal advice about your situation.
• LawHelpMN.org offers legal information for non-lawyers, including helpful Legal Fact Sheets and other resources.
  • Guardianship, Conservatorship, & Power of Attorney 
  • Wills, Probate & Trusts
• MAGIC - MN Association for Guardianship and Conservatorship
• MN Attorney General's Office: Probate and Planning - Conservatorship

Guardianship / Conservatorship Educational Video

Legal Advice

---

• Find a Lawyer & Legal Resources (District 4 - Hennepin)
• Legal Access Point Clinic - FREE, brief consultation with a volunteer lawyer at the 4th District Court Self-Help Center.
• Volunteers of America (VOA): Estate & Elder Law Services Legal help for seniors and people with disabilities offered on a reduced-fee basis. Other clients pay regular rates for services.

« Back to Probate / Mental Health Court Home

« Back to 4th District Court Home