Amended in Senate June 24, 2013

Amended in Senate June 10, 2013

Amended in Assembly April 22, 2013

Amended in Assembly March 21, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 1339


Introduced by Assembly Member Maienschein

February 22, 2013


An act to amend Sections 1510, 1821, 2250, and 2643 of, and to add Sectionsbegin delete 2614.7end deletebegin insert 2614.7, 2614.8,end insert and 2643.1 to, the Probate Code, relating to professional fiduciaries.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1339, as amended, Maienschein. Professional fiduciaries: guardians and conservators.

Existing law provides that a relative or other person on behalf of a minor, or a minor if he or she is 12 years of age or older, may file a petition for the appointment of a guardian of the person or estate of the minor. Existing law also provides that certain persons may file a petition for the appointment of a conservator. Existing law provides that on or after the filing of a petition for appointment of a guardian or conservator, a person entitled to petition for the appointment of a guardian or conservator may file a petition for the appointment of a temporary guardian or temporary conservator, as specified. Under existing law, when a petition to appoint a conservator or a temporary conservator is filed, and the petitioner is a professional fiduciary, as defined, the petition must include specified additional information, including the petitioner’s license information and a statement explaining who engaged the petitioner or how the petitioner was engaged to file the petition for appointment of a conservator and what prior relationship the petitioner had with the proposed conservatee or the proposed conservatee’s family or friends.

This bill would require that when a petition to appoint a conservator or a temporary conservator is filed, and the petitioner or proposed conservator is a professional fiduciary, as defined, the petition also include the petitioner’s or proposed conservator’s proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement of the petitioner’s or proposed conservator’s proposed compensation from the estate of the proposed conservatee for services performed.

This bill would also require, when a petition to appoint a guardian or temporary guardian is filed, and the petitioner or proposed guardian is a professional fiduciary, as defined, the petition to include the same additional information as when a professional fiduciary files a petition to appoint a conservator or a temporary conservator.

Existing law requires, within 90 days of a guardian’s or conservator’s appointment, the guardian or conservator to file an inventory and appraisal.

This bill would require the guardian or conservator, if he or she is a professional fiduciary, as defined, to file concurrently with the inventory and appraisal a proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement of his or her proposed compensation from the estate of the ward or conservatee for services performed. begin insertThe bill would also authorize the guardian or conservator to submit a new proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement of his or her proposed compensation at any time on or after one year from the original submission, as specified.end insert

Existing law permits the court, on petition by the guardian or conservator, to authorize periodic payments on account to the guardian or conservator for the services rendered by those persons during the period covered by each payment.

This bill would permit the court, on petition by a guardian or conservator who is a professional fiduciary, as defined, to authorize periodic payments on account only if the guardian or conservator filed a proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement of his or her proposed compensation from the estate of the ward or conservatee for services performed with the inventory and appraisal and only after addressing all objections to the petition. This bill would also provide that the authorization for periodic payments to a guardian or conservator who is a professional fiduciary, as defined, shall terminatebegin delete as ofend deletebegin insert on a date determined by the court, but not later thanend insert the due date of the next succeeding accounting.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P3    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 1510 of the Probate Code is amended to
2read:

3

1510.  

(a) A relative or other person on behalf of the minor, or
4the minor if 12 years of age or older, may file a petition for the
5appointment of a guardian of the minor. A relative may file a
6petition for the appointment of a guardian under this section
7regardless of the relative’s immigration status.

8(b) The petition shall request that a guardian of the person or
9estate of the minor, or both, be appointed, shall specify the name
10and address of the proposed guardian and the name and date of
11birth of the proposed ward, and shall state that the appointment is
12necessary or convenient.

13(c) The petition shall set forth, so far as is known to the
14petitioner, the names and addresses of all of the following:

15(1) The parents of the proposed ward.

16(2) The person having legal custody of the proposed ward and,
17if that person does not have the care of the proposed ward, the
18person having the care of the proposed ward.

19(3) The relatives of the proposed ward within the second degree.

20(4) In the case of a guardianship of the estate, the spouse of the
21proposed ward.

22(5) Any person nominated as guardian for the proposed ward
23under Section 1500 or 1501.

24(6) In the case of a guardianship of the person involving an
25Indian child, any Indian custodian and the Indian child’s tribe.

26(d) If the petitioner or proposed guardian is a professional
27fiduciary, as described in Section 2340, who is required to be
28licensed under the Professional Fiduciaries Act (Chapter 6
29(commencing with Section 6500) of Division 3 of the Business
30and Professions Code), the petition shall include the following:

31 (1) The petitioner’s or proposed guardian’s proposed hourly fee
32schedule or another statement of his or her proposed compensation
P4    1from the estate of the proposed ward for services performed as a
2guardian. The petitioner’s or proposed guardian’s provision of a
3proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement of his or her
4proposed compensation, as required by this paragraph, shall not
5 preclude a court from later reducing the petitioner’s or proposed
6guardian’s fees or other compensation.

7(2) Unless a petition for appointment of a temporary guardian
8that contains the statements required by this paragraph is filed
9together with a petition for appointment of a guardian, both of the
10following:

11(A) A statement of the petitioner’s or proposed guardian’s
12license information.

13(B) A statement explaining who engaged the petitioner or
14proposed guardian or how the petitioner or proposed guardian was
15engaged to file the petition for appointment of a guardian or to
16agree to accept the appointment as guardian and what prior
17relationship the petitioner or proposed guardian had with the
18proposed ward or the proposed ward’s family or friends.

19(e) If the proposed ward is a patient in or on leave of absence
20from a state institution under the jurisdiction of the State
21Department of State Hospitals or the State Department of
22Developmental Services and that fact is known to the petitioner
23or proposed guardian, the petition shall state that fact and name
24the institution.

25(f) The petition shall state, so far as is known to the petitioner
26or proposed guardian, whether or not the proposed ward is
27receiving or is entitled to receive benefits from the Veterans
28Administration and the estimated amount of the monthly benefit
29payable by the Veterans Administration for the proposed ward.

30(g) If the petitioner or proposed guardian has knowledge of any
31pending adoption, juvenile court, marriage dissolution, domestic
32relations, custody, or other similar proceeding affecting the
33proposed ward, the petition shall disclose the pending proceeding.

34(h) If the petitioners or proposed guardians have accepted or
35intend to accept physical care or custody of the child with intent
36to adopt, whether formed at the time of placement or formed
37subsequent to placement, the petitioners or proposed guardians
38shall so state in the guardianship petition, whether or not an
39adoption petition has been filed.

P5    1(i) If the proposed ward is or becomes the subject of an adoption
2petition, the court shall order the guardianship petition consolidated
3with the adoption petition, and the consolidated case shall be heard
4and decided in the court in which the adoption is pending.

5(j) If the proposed ward is or may be an Indian child, the petition
6shall state that fact.

7

SEC. 2.  

Section 1821 of the Probate Code is amended to read:

8

1821.  

(a) The petition shall request that a conservator be
9appointed for the person or estate, or both, shall specify the name,
10address, and telephone number of the proposed conservator and
11the name, address, and telephone number of the proposed
12conservatee, and state the reasons why a conservatorship is
13necessary. Unless the petitioner or proposed conservator is a bank
14or other entity authorized to conduct the business of a trust
15company, the petitioner or proposed conservator shall also file
16supplemental information as to why the appointment of a
17conservator is required. The supplemental information to be
18submitted shall include a brief statement of facts addressed to each
19of the following categories:

20(1) The inability of the proposed conservatee to properly provide
21for his or her needs for physical health, food, clothing, and shelter.

22(2) The location of the proposed conservatee’s residence and
23the ability of the proposed conservatee to live in the residence
24while under conservatorship.

25(3) Alternatives to conservatorship considered by the petitioner
26or proposed conservator and reasons why those alternatives are
27not available.

28(4) Health or social services provided to the proposed
29conservatee during the year preceding the filing of the petition,
30when the petitioner or proposed conservator has information as to
31those services.

32(5) The inability of the proposed conservatee to substantially
33manage his or her own financial resources, or to resist fraud or
34undue influence.

35The facts required to address the categories set forth in
36paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, shall be set forth by the petitioner
37or proposed conservator if he or she has knowledge of the facts or
38by the declarations or affidavits of other persons having knowledge
39of those facts.

P6    1If any of the categories set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5),
2inclusive, are not applicable to the proposed conservatorship, the
3petitioner or proposed conservator shall so indicate and state on
4the supplemental information form the reasons therefor.

5The Judicial Council shall develop a supplemental information
6form for the information required pursuant to paragraphs (1) to
7(5), inclusive, after consultation with individuals or organizations
8approved by the Judicial Council, who represent public
9conservators, court investigators, the State Bar, specialists with
10experience in performing assessments and coordinating
11community-based services, and legal services for the elderly and
12disabled.

13The supplemental information form shall be separate and distinct
14from the form for the petition. The supplemental information shall
15be confidential and shall be made available only to parties, persons
16given notice of the petition who have requested this supplemental
17information or who have appeared in the proceedings, their
18attorneys, and the court. The court shall have discretion at any
19other time to release the supplemental information to other persons
20if it would serve the interests of the conservatee. The clerk of the
21 court shall make provision for limiting disclosure of the
22supplemental information exclusively to persons entitled thereto
23under this section.

24(b) The petition shall set forth, so far as they are known to the
25 petitioner or proposed conservator, the names and addresses of the
26spouse or domestic partner, and of the relatives of the proposed
27conservatee within the second degree. If no spouse or domestic
28partner of the proposed conservatee or relatives of the proposed
29conservatee within the second degree are known to the petitioner
30or proposed conservator, the petition shall set forth, so far as they
31are known to the petitioner or proposed conservator, the names
32and addresses of the following persons who, for the purposes of
33Section 1822, shall all be deemed to be relatives:

34(1) A spouse or domestic partner of a predeceased parent of a
35proposed conservatee.

36(2) The children of a predeceased spouse or domestic partner
37of a proposed conservatee.

38(3) The siblings of the proposed conservatee’s parents, if any,
39but if none, then the natural and adoptive children of the proposed
40conservatee’s parents’ siblings.

P7    1(4) The natural and adoptive children of the proposed
2conservatee’s siblings.

3(c) If the petitioner or proposed conservator is a professional
4fiduciary, as described in Section 2340, who is required to be
5licensed under the Professional Fiduciaries Act (Chapter 6
6(commencing with Section 6500) of Division 3 of the Business
7and Professions Code), the petition shall include the following:

8(1) The petitioner’s or proposed conservator’s proposed hourly
9fee schedule or another statement of his or her proposed
10compensation from the estate of the proposed conservatee for
11services performed as a conservator. The petitioner’s or proposed
12conservator’s provision of a proposed hourly fee schedule or
13another statement of his or her proposed compensation, as required
14by this paragraph, shall not preclude a court from later reducing
15the petitioner’s or proposed conservator’s fees or other
16compensation.

17(2) Unless a petition for appointment of a temporary conservator
18that contains the statements required by this paragraph is filed
19together with a petition for appointment of a conservator, both of
20the following:

21(A) A statement of the petitioner’s or proposed conservator’s
22license information.

23(B) A statement explaining who engaged the petitioner or
24proposed conservator or how the petitioner or proposed conservator
25was engaged to file the petition for appointment of a conservator
26or to agree to accept the appointment as conservator and what prior
27relationship the petitioner or proposed conservator had with the
28proposed conservatee or the proposed conservatee’s family or
29friends.

30(d) If the petition is filed by a person other than the proposed
31conservatee, the petition shall include a declaration of due diligence
32showing both of the following:

33(1) Either the efforts to find the proposed conservatee’s relatives
34or why it was not feasible to contact any of them.

35(2) Either the preferences of the proposed conservatee
36concerning the appointment of a conservator and the appointment
37of the proposed conservator or why it was not feasible to ascertain
38those preferences.

39(e) If the petition is filed by a person other than the proposed
40conservatee, the petition shall state whether or not the petitioner
P8    1is a creditor or debtor, or the agent of a creditor or debtor, of the
2proposed conservatee.

3(f) If the proposed conservatee is a patient in or on leave of
4absence from a state institution under the jurisdiction of the State
5Department of State Hospitals or the State Department of
6Developmental Services and that fact is known to the petitioner
7or proposed conservator, the petition shall state that fact and name
8the institution.

9(g) The petition shall state, so far as is known to the petitioner
10or proposed conservator, whether or not the proposed conservatee
11is receiving or is entitled to receive benefits from the Veterans
12Administration and the estimated amount of the monthly benefit
13payable by the Veterans Administration for the proposed
14conservatee.

15(h) The petition may include an application for any order or
16orders authorized under this division, including, but not limited
17to, orders under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1870).

18(i) The petition may include a further statement that the proposed
19conservatee is not willing to attend the hearing on the petition,
20does not wish to contest the establishment of the conservatorship,
21and does not object to the proposed conservator or prefer that
22another person act as conservator.

23(j) In the case of an allegedly developmentally disabled adult,
24the petition shall set forth the following:

25(1) The nature and degree of the alleged disability, the specific
26duties and powers requested by or for the limited conservator, and
27the limitations of civil and legal rights requested to be included in
28the court’s order of appointment.

29(2) Whether or not the proposed limited conservatee is or is
30alleged to be developmentally disabled.

31Reports submitted pursuant to Section 416.8 of the Health and
32Safety Code meet the requirements of this section, and
33conservatorships filed pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with
34Section 416) of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Health and Safety Code
35are exempt from providing the supplemental information required
36by this section, so long as the guidelines adopted by the State
37Department of Developmental Services for regional centers require
38the same information that is required pursuant to this section.

39

SEC. 3.  

Section 2250 of the Probate Code is amended to read:

P9    1

2250.  

(a) On or after the filing of a petition for appointment
2of a guardian or conservator, any person entitled to petition for
3appointment of the guardian or conservator may file a petition for
4appointment of:

5(1) A temporary guardian of the person or estate, or both.

6(2) A temporary conservator of the person or estate, or both.

7(b) The petition shall state facts which establish good cause for
8appointment of the temporary guardian or temporary conservator.
9The court, upon that petition or other showing as it may require,
10may appoint a temporary guardian of the person or estate, or both,
11or a temporary conservator of the person or estate, or both, to serve
12pending the final determination of the court upon the petition for
13the appointment of the guardian or conservator.

14(c) If the petitioner, proposed guardian, or proposed conservator
15is a professional fiduciary, as described in Section 2340, who is
16required to be licensed under the Professional Fiduciaries Act
17(Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 3 of the
18Business and Professions Code), the petition for appointment of
19a temporary guardian or temporary conservator shall include the
20following:

21(1) The petitioner’s, proposed guardian’s, or proposed
22conservator’s proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement
23of his or her proposed compensation from the estate of the proposed
24ward or proposed conservatee for services performed as a guardian
25or conservator. The petitioner’s, proposed guardian’s, or proposed
26conservator’s provision of a proposed hourly fee schedule or
27another statement of his or her proposed compensation, as required
28by this paragraph, shall not preclude a court from later reducing
29the petitioner’s, proposed guardian’s, or proposed conservator’s
30fees or other compensation.

31(2) Unless a petition for appointment of a guardian or
32conservator that contains the statements required by this paragraph
33is filed together with a petition for appointment of a temporary
34guardian or temporary conservator, both of the following:

35(A) A statement of the petitioner’s, proposed guardian’s, or
36proposed conservator’s registration or license information.

37(B) A statement explaining who engaged the petitioner, proposed
38guardian, or proposed conservator or how the petitioner, proposed
39guardian, or proposed conservator was engaged to file the petition
40for appointment of a temporary guardian or temporary conservator
P10   1or to agree to accept the appointment as temporary guardian or
2temporary conservator and what prior relationship the petitioner,
3proposed guardian, or proposed conservator had with the proposed
4ward or proposed conservatee or the proposed ward’s or proposed
5conservatee’s family or friends.

6(d) If the petition is filed by a party other than the proposed
7conservatee, the petition shall include a declaration of due diligence
8showing both of the following:

9(1) Either the efforts to find the proposed conservatee’s relatives
10named in the petition for appointment of a general conservator or
11why it was not feasible to contact any of them.

12(2) Either the preferences of the proposed conservatee
13concerning the appointment of a temporary conservator and the
14appointment of the proposed temporary conservator or why it was
15not feasible to ascertain those preferences.

16(e) Unless the court for good cause otherwise orders, at least
17five court days before the hearing on the petition, notice of the
18hearing shall be given as follows:

19(1) Notice of the hearing shall be personally delivered to the
20proposed ward if he or she is 12 years of age or older, to the parent
21or parents of the proposed ward, and to any person having a valid
22visitation order with the proposed ward that was effective at the
23time of the filing of the petition. Notice of the hearing shall not be
24delivered to the proposed ward if he or she is under 12 years of
25age. In a proceeding for temporary guardianship of the person,
26evidence that a custodial parent has died or become incapacitated,
27and that the petitioner or proposed guardian is the nominee of the
28custodial parent, may constitute good cause for the court to order
29that this notice not be delivered.

30(2) Notice of the hearing shall be personally delivered to the
31proposed conservatee, and notice of the hearing shall be served
32on the persons required to be named in the petition for appointment
33of conservator. If the petition states that the petitioner and the
34proposed conservator have no prior relationship with the proposed
35conservatee and has not been nominated by a family member,
36friend, or other person with a relationship to the proposed
37 conservatee, notice of hearing shall be served on the public
38guardian of the county in which the petition is filed.

39(3) A copy of the petition for temporary appointment shall be
40served with the notice of hearing.

P11   1(f) If a temporary guardianship is granted ex parte and the
2hearing on the general guardianship petition is not to be held within
330 days of the granting of the temporary guardianship, the court
4shall set a hearing within 30 days to reconsider the temporary
5guardianship. Notice of the hearing for reconsideration of the
6temporary guardianship shall be provided pursuant to Section
71511, except that the court may for good cause shorten the time
8for the notice of the hearing.

9(g) Visitation orders with the proposed ward granted prior to
10the filing of a petition for temporary guardianship shall remain in
11effect, unless for good cause the court orders otherwise.

12(h) (1) If a temporary conservatorship is granted ex parte, and
13a petition to terminate the temporary conservatorship is filed more
14than 15 days before the first hearing on the general petition for
15appointment of conservator, the court shall set a hearing within
1615 days of the filing of the petition for termination of the temporary
17conservatorship to reconsider the temporary conservatorship.
18Unless the court otherwise orders, notice of the hearing on the
19petition to terminate the temporary conservatorship shall be given
20at least 10 days prior to the hearing.

21(2) If a petition to terminate the temporary conservatorship is
22filed within 15 days before the first hearing on the general petition
23for appointment of conservator, the court shall set the hearing at
24the same time that the hearing on the general petition is set. Unless
25the court otherwise orders, notice of the hearing on the petition to
26terminate the temporary conservatorship pursuant to this section
27shall be given at least five court days prior to the hearing.

28(i) If the court suspends powers of the guardian or conservator
29under Section 2334 or 2654 or under any other provision of this
30division, the court may appoint a temporary guardian or conservator
31to exercise those powers until the powers are restored to the
32guardian or conservator or a new guardian or conservator is
33appointed.

34(j) If for any reason a vacancy occurs in the office of guardian
35or conservator, the court, on a petition filed under subdivision (a)
36or on its own motion, may appoint a temporary guardian or
37conservator to exercise the powers of the guardian or conservator
38until a new guardian or conservator is appointed.

39(k) On or before January 1, 2008, the Judicial Council shall
40adopt a rule of court that establishes uniform standards for good
P12   1cause exceptions to the notice required by subdivision (e), limiting
2those exceptions to only cases when waiver of the notice is
3essential to protect the proposed conservatee or ward, or the estate
4of the proposed conservatee or ward, from substantial harm.

5(l) A superior court shall not be required to perform any duties
6imposed pursuant to the amendments to this section enacted by
7Chapter 493 of the Statutes 2006 until the Legislature makes an
8appropriation identified for this purpose.

9

SEC. 4.  

Section 2614.7 is added to the Probate Code, to read:

10

2614.7.  

If a guardian or conservator of the person or estate, or
11both, is a professional fiduciary, as described in Section 2340, who
12is required to be licensed under the Professional Fiduciaries Act
13(Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 3 of the
14Business and Professions Code), the guardian or conservator shall
15file, concurrently with the inventory and appraisal required by
16Section 2610, a proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement
17of his or her proposed compensation from the estate of the ward
18or conservatee for services performed as a guardian or conservator.
19The filing of a proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement
20of the guardian’s or conservator’s proposed compensation, as
21required by this section, shall not preclude a court from later
22reducing the guardian’s, conservator’s, or his or her attorney’s fees
23or other compensation.

24begin insert

begin insertSEC. 5.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 2614.8 is added to the end insertbegin insertProbate Codeend insertbegin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
25

begin insert2614.8.end insert  

(a) At any time on or after one year from the
26submission of an hourly fee schedule or another statement of
27proposed compensation under this section or under Section 1510,
281821, 2250, or 2614.7, a guardian or conservator who is a
29professional fiduciary may submit a new proposed hourly fee
30schedule or another statement of his or her proposed compensation
31from the estate of the proposed ward or proposed conservatee.

32(b) (1) Notice of how to file an objection to the new proposed
33hourly fee schedule or another statement of proposed compensation
34shall be given for the period and in the manner provided in Chapter
353 (commencing with Section 1460) of Part 1.

36(2) The notices required by paragraph (1) shall be made to the
37court investigator, if appointed, for the period and in the manner
38provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1460) of Part 1.

39(c) (1) Any person entitled to notice under paragraph (1) of
40subdivision (b) may file with the court a written objection to the
P13   1new proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement of proposed
2compensation. The court clerk shall set any objections for a
3hearing no fewer than 15 days after the date the objections are
4filed.

5(2) If an objection is filed pursuant to paragraph (1), the
6guardian or conservator shall have the burden of establishing the
7need for the new proposed hourly fee schedule or another statement
8of proposed compensation.

end insert
9

begin deleteSEC. 5.end delete
10begin insertSEC. 6.end insert  

Section 2643 of the Probate Code is amended to read:

11

2643.  

(a) Except as provided in Section 2643.1, on petition
12by the guardian or conservator of the person or estate, or both, the
13court may by order authorize periodic payments on account to any
14one or more of the following persons for the services rendered by
15that person during the period covered by each payment:

16(1) The guardian of the person.

17(2) The guardian of the estate.

18(3) The conservator of the person.

19(4) The conservator of the estate.

20(5) The attorney for the guardian or conservator of the person
21or estate, or both.

22(b) Notice of the hearing on the petition shall be given for the
23period and in the manner provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with
24Section 1460) of Part 1.

25(c) The petition shall describe the services to be rendered on a
26periodic basis and the reason why authority to make periodic
27payments is requested. In fixing the amount of the periodic
28payment, the court shall take into account the services to be
29rendered on a periodic basis and the reasonable value of those
30 services. The guardian or conservator of the estate may make the
31periodic payments authorized by the order only if the services
32described in the petition are actually rendered. The payments made
33pursuant to the order are subject to review by the court upon the
34next succeeding account of the guardian or conservator of the
35estate to determine that the services were actually rendered and
36that the amount paid on account was not unreasonable, and the
37court shall make an appropriate order if the court determines that
38the amount paid on account was either excessive or inadequate in
39view of the services actually rendered.

P14   1

begin deleteSEC. 6.end delete
2begin insertSEC. 7.end insert  

Section 2643.1 is added to the Probate Code, to read:

3

2643.1.  

(a) On petition by a guardian or conservator of the
4person or estate, or both, who is a professional fiduciary, as
5described in Section 2340 and who is required to be licensed under
6the Professional Fiduciaries Act (Chapter 6 (commencing with
7Section 6500) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code),
8the court may by order authorize periodic payments on account to
9a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 2643 for the
10services rendered by that person during the period covered by each
11payment only if that person has filed a proposed hourly fee
12schedule or another statement of his or her proposed compensation
13from the estate of the ward or conservatee for services performed
14as a guardian or conservator, as required by Section 2614.7, and
15only after the court has addressed any objections filed pursuant to
16subdivision (d).

17(b) The petition shall describe the services to be rendered on a
18periodic basis, the reason why authority to make periodic payments
19is requested, and a good faith estimate of the fees to be charged
20by the professional fiduciary from the date the petition is filed up
21to, and including, the date of the next succeeding account required
22by Section 2620 or, if the next succeeding account required by
23Section 2620 is due in less than one year, a good faith estimate of
24the fees to be charged by the professional fiduciary from the date
25the petition is filed through the next succeeding 12 months,
26inclusive. Prior to ordering periodic payments or fixing the amount
27of the periodic payment, the court shall determine whether making
28periodic payments is in the best interest of the ward or conservatee,
29taking into consideration the needs of the ward or conservatee and
30the need to preserve and protect the estate. If the court determines
31that making periodic payments is not in the best interest of the
32ward or conservatee, the court shall deny the petition to authorize
33periodic payments. If the court determines that making periodic
34payments is in the best interest of the ward or conservatee, the
35court shall fix the amount of the periodic payment. In fixing the
36amount of the periodic payment, the court shall take into account
37the services to be rendered on a periodic basis and the reasonable
38value of those services.

39(c) (1) Notice of the hearing on the petition and notice of how
40to file an objection to the petition shall be given for the period and
P15   1in the manner provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section
21460) of Part 1.

3(2) The notices required by paragraph (1) shall be made to the
4court investigator for the period and in the manner provided in
5Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1460) of Part 1.

6(d) (1) Any person entitled to notice under paragraph (1) of
7subdivision (c) may file with the court a written objection to the
8authorization of periodic payments on account. The court clerk
9shall set any objections for a hearing no fewer than 15 days after
10the date the objections are filed.

11(2) If an objection is filed pursuant to paragraph (1), the guardian
12or conservator shall have the burden of establishing the necessity
13for and amount, if any, of periodic payments.

14(e) The guardian or conservator of the estate may make the
15periodic payments authorized by the order only if the services
16described in the petition are actually rendered. The payments made
17pursuant to the order shall be reviewed by the court upon the next
18succeeding account of the guardian or conservator of the estate to
19determine that the services were actually rendered and that the
20amount paid on account was reasonable and in the best interest of
21the ward or conservatee, taking into consideration the needs of the
22ward or conservatee and the need to preserve and protect the estate.
23The court shall make an appropriate order reducing the guardian
24or conservator’s compensation if the court determines that the
25amount paid on account was either unreasonable or not in the best
26interest of the ward or conservatee in view of the services actually
27rendered.

28(f) The authorization for periodic payments granted pursuant
29to this section shall terminatebegin delete as ofend deletebegin insert on a date determined by the
30court, but not later thanend insert
the due date of the next succeeding account
31required by Section 2620. Nothing in this section shall preclude a
32guardian or conservator from filing a subsequent petition to receive
33periodic payments pursuant to this section.



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