Conservatorship petitions for developmentally disabled children

Los Angeles Superior Court Los Angeles County www.lasuperiorcourt.org Contact: Public Information Office 213-974-5227 Public Information Officer: Allan Parachini

MEDIA

ADVISORY

 

May 13, 2010

 

Probate Court to Hear 22 Petitions re Limited Conservatorships as Part of New Mobile Legal Assistance Clinic Called the

“Family Matters Project”

 

At 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 14, in Dept. 5 of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Judge Mitchell Beckloff, supervising judge of probate, will hear 22 petitions for limited conservatorship filed by families with developmentally disabled children.  These children attend J.P. Widney High School, a special education center in the Los Angeles Unified School District. 

Many parents of developmentally disabled children are unaware that, once the child turns 18, the parents or guardians can no longer make legal decisions on behalf of the adult child without court ordered powers of conservatorship, referred to as 'limited conservatorship'. Even if the parents are aware of this change in legal circumstance, they are often perplexed as to how to go about the necessary legal process, an especially difficult task for low-income families. 

Friday’s hearings are the final step in a process that began last December when these families began a limited conservatorship program sponsored by Bet Tzedek, a legal services provider in Los Angeles, in partnership with Los Angeles Superior Court and J.P. Widney High School. This comprehensive program consists of three workshops held at the high school providing information about the legal necessity of obtaining a limited conservatorship, assistance obtaining and completing the necessary forms, and free legal representation.

Transportation for the families to and from the courthouse has been provided by Los Angeles County Supervisor, Mark Ridley Thomas.  The families will be met at 12:30 at the 2^nd floor mall entrance to the courthouse, where they will be escorted to Dept. 5 by Justice Corps volunteers.

Dept. 5 is located on the 2^nd floor of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles.  For further information, please contact the Public Information Office at (213) 974-5227.