Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of R.J..
The court held that because R.J. failed to object to the trial court's authorization of periodic fee payments to the Kern County Public Conservator, his challenges were forfeited, his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel was unsupported, and therefore the post-trial order was affirmed.
Date Filed: August 13, 2025
Case Name: Conservatorship of the Person and Estate of R.J..
Case Number: F088679
Court: California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
The Court holds that R.J.’s challenge to the trial‑court order authorizing periodic compensation payments to the public conservator is forfeited because he failed to raise the issue in the underlying proceeding, and his claim of ineffective assistance of counsel also fails. Accordingly, the appellate court affirms the post‑trial order permitting the periodic fee payments and requires the parties to bear their own costs. This decision underscores that conservatorship fee disputes must be presented at the trial level (or addressed in a later accounting) and cannot be revived on appeal, reinforcing the forfeiture rule in California probate practice.
This case summary was prepared for educational purposes. For the authoritative version, please refer to the full opinion or the official California Courts website.