Article 1 - Removal of Guardian or Conservator

California Probate Code — §§ 2650-2655

Sections (6)

Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 553, Sec. 26. (SB 940) Effective January 1, 2015. Operative January 1, 2016, by Stats. 2014, Ch. 553, Sec. 29.

A guardian or conservator may be removed for any of the following causes:

(a)Failure to use ordinary care and diligence in the management of the estate.

(b)Failure to file an inventory or an account within the time allowed by law or by court order.

(c)Continued failure to perform duties or incapacity to perform duties suitably.

(d)Conviction of a felony, whether before or after appointment as guardian or conservator.

(e)Gross immorality.

(f)Having such an interest adverse to the faithful performance of duties that there is an unreasonable risk that the guardian or conservator will fail faithfully to perform duties.

(g)In the case of a guardian of the person or a conservator of the person, acting in violation of any provision of Section 2356.

(h)In the case of a guardian of the estate or a conservator of the estate, insolvency or bankruptcy of the guardian or conservator.

(i)In the case of a conservator appointed by a court in another jurisdiction, removal because that person would not have been appointed in this state despite being eligible to serve under the law of this state.

(j)In any other case in which the court in

its discretion determines that removal is in the best interests of the ward or conservatee; but, in considering the best interests of the ward, if the guardian was nominated under Section 1500 or 1501, the court shall take that fact into consideration.

§ 2651

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 893, Sec. 41. Effective January 1, 2002.

The ward or conservatee, the spouse of the ward or the spouse or domestic partner of the conservatee, any relative or friend of the ward or conservatee, or any interested person may apply by petition to the court to have the guardian or conservator removed. The petition shall state facts showing cause for removal.

§ 2652

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

Notice of the hearing on the petition shall be given for the period and in the manner provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1460) of Part 1.

§ 2653

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 417, Sec. 26. (AB 1194) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)The guardian or conservator, the ward or conservatee, the spouse of the ward or the spouse or registered domestic partner of the conservatee, a relative or friend of the ward or conservatee, and any interested person may appear at the hearing and support or oppose the petition.

(b)If the court determines that cause for removal of the guardian or conservator exists, the court may remove the guardian or conservator, revoke the letters of guardianship or conservatorship, and enter judgment accordingly and, in the case of a guardianship or conservatorship of the estate, order the guardian or conservator to file an accounting and to surrender the

estate to the person legally entitled thereto. If the guardian or conservator fails to file the accounting as ordered, the court may compel the accounting pursuant to Section 2620.2.

(c)If the court removes the guardian or conservator for cause, as described in subdivisions (a) to (g), inclusive, of Section 2650 or Section 2655, all of the following shall apply:

(1)The court shall award the petitioner the costs of the petition and other expenses and costs of litigation, including attorney’s fees, incurred under this article.

(2)The guardian or conservator may not deduct from, or charge to, the estate the guardian’s or conservator’s costs of opposing the petition for removal, and is personally liable for those costs

and expenses.

(3)If the court removes a professional fiduciary as guardian or conservator for cause, the court shall report that determination and the basis for removal to the Professional Fiduciaries Bureau. If the court reports an action taken under this section, the court shall provide the bureau, at no charge, with access to the information, including confidential information, regarding its investigation of the professional fiduciary contained in court records. The bureau shall maintain the confidentiality of the information, as required by paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 6580 of the Business and Professions Code or any other applicable state or federal law.

(d)A

superior court shall not be required to perform any duties imposed pursuant to the amendments to this section enacted by the measure that added this subdivision until the Legislature makes an appropriation identified for this purpose.

§ 2654

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

Whenever it appears that the ward or conservatee or the estate may suffer loss or injury during the time required for notice and hearing under this article, the court, on its own motion or on petition, may do either or both of the following:

(a)Suspend the powers of the guardian or conservator pending notice and hearing to such extent as the court deems necessary.

(b)Compel the guardian or conservator to surrender the estate to a custodian designated by the court.

§ 2655

Enacted by Stats. 1990, Ch. 79.

(a)A guardian or conservator may be removed from office if the guardian or conservator is found in contempt for disobeying an order of the court.

(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a guardian or conservator may be removed from office under subdivision (a) by a court order reciting the facts and without further showing or notice.