“In San Francisco, the Probate Court Judge oversees mental health conservatorships and related mental health proceedings. A mental health conservatorship is different from a probate conservatorship. It is used only for people who have a psychiatric disorder so severe that it prevents them from providing for their most basic personal needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. The legal term is gravely disabled.

The purpose of mental health conservatorships is to provide individualized treatment, supervision, and living arrangements for people who are seriously mentally ill while still protecting their individual rights. Mental health conservatorships, which are sometimes called LPS conservatorships because they are governed by the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, can involve confinement in a locked psychiatric facility, which means the person is deprived of personal liberty. Therefore, there are strict legal procedures and laws that must be followed by doctors and hospitals and which involve review and monitoring by the Probate Court.”

Source: https://www.sfsuperiorcourt.org/divisions/probate/mental-health-conservatorship

Conservatorship Forms

Source: https://www.sfsuperiorcourt.org/node/177/

Related Links

Source: https://www.sfsuperiorcourt.org/divisions/probate/conservatorships-of-adults

Elder Abuse

Forms for elder or dependent adult abuse are mandatory. There is no filing fee.

SELF-HELP

Persons without an attorney should visit the ACCESS Center in The Civic Center Courthouse, Room 009, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco. After visiting the Family Law Self-Help Center, file elder abuse forms in the Civic Center Courthouse Room 103, at Windows 24, 25 or 26.

RESTRAINING ORDERS

  • Requests for temporary restraining orders may be filed in the Probate Department if the elder for whom protection is sought is subject to an active Conservatorship. A request submitted by 10 a.m. will be available for pick-up by 2:30 p.m. the same day. Requests submitted after 10 a.m. will be available for pick-up by 2:30 p.m. the next court day.

  • Hearings on permanent restraining orders are held in Department 204 of the Civic Center Courthouse on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. A hearing date is assigned by the time the papers are picked up in Room 103. A hearing date may also be set by a Judicial Officer at the time of issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order and in those cases may be set on any Monday-Friday at 1:30 p.m. The hearing date will be within 20 days, or 25 days with showing of good cause.

  • Requests for restraining orders must be personally served on the respondent and a proof of service filed with the Court. The Sheriff’s Department will serve them free of charge (and file the proof of service) if the petitioner takes the papers to Room 456 in City Hall. If service cannot be completed before the hearing, the temporary restraining order may be extended and the hearing continued for two weeks by filing form EA-115.

  • At the hearing the Judge may issue a “permanent” restraining order effective for three years. It can be renewed for another three years or permanently.

  • Elder and dependent adult restraining orders are controlled by Welfare & Institutions Code Sections 15610.07 and 15657.03.

ACCESS Center 
San Francisco Superior Court
400 McAllister Street, Room 509
San Francisco, CA 94102-4514

ACCESS Center Hours and Services,  Effective June 2022
Centro ACCESS Horario y Servicios

ONLINE SERVICES

LIVE HELPLINE
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
(415) 551-0605