Guardianship and Conservatorship

These forms may be used for personal, non-commercial purposes ONLY.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Power of Attorney for Care, Custody or Property of a Minor Child

Power of Attorney – Financial (Form), link to Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).

Power of Attorney – Medical (Form), link to Montana DPHHS.

GUARDIANSHIP OF MINOR

Guardianship of a Minor Packet from the Montana Supreme Court Commission on Self-Represented Litigants and Montana Legal Services Association.

ADULT GUARDIANSHIP - PLANNING & REPORTING FORMS

Guardian Care Plan Form

Guardian Inventory Form

Guardian Annual Accounting Form – Small Estate

Guardian Annual Accounting Form – Standard

Guardian Annual Report Form

Overview

Montana law provides options for protecting individuals needing assistance with decision-making, such as minors and incapacitated adults. These options include Full or Limited Guardianship, Conservatorship, Power of Attorney, and other Less Restrictive Alternatives.

Terms & Definitions

Conservator means a person who is appointed by a court to manage the estate of a protected person. MCA 72-1-103 (8)

Guardian means a person who has qualified as a guardian of a minor or incapacitated person pursuant to testamentary or court appointment but excludes one who is merely a guardian ad litem. MCA 72-1-103 (21)

Incapacitated person means any person who is impaired by reason of mental illness, mental deficiency, physical illness or disability, chronic use of drugs, chronic intoxication, or other cause, except minority, to the extent that the person lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning the person or which cause has so impaired the person's judgment that the person is incapable of realizing and making a rational decision with respect to the person's need for treatment. MCA 72-5-101 (1)

Minor means a person who is under 18 years of age. MCA 72-1-103 (30)

Protected person means a minor or other person for whom a conservator has been appointed or other protective order has been made. MCA 72-5-101 (2)

Purpose and basis for guardianship. Guardianship for an incapacitated person may be used only as is necessary to promote and protect the well-being of the person. The guardianship must be designed to encourage the development of maximum self-reliance and independence in the person and may be ordered only to the extent that the person's actual mental and physical limitations require it. An incapacitated person for whom a guardian has been appointed is not presumed to be incompetent and retains all legal and civil rights except those that have been expressly limited by court order or have been specifically granted to the guardian by the court. MCA 72-5-306

Ward is the term used for a person for whom a guardian has been appointed. A "minor ward" is a minor for whom a guardian has been appointed solely because of minority. MCA 72-5-101 (5)

Resources