ARTICLE 5. Special Provisions Applicable Where Proposed Conservatee Is a Missing Person [1845. - 1849.5.]

Cal. Probate Code - PROB 5.

in effect

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 1845. Section 1845.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, a conservator of the estate of a person who is missing and whose whereabouts is unknown shall be appointed as provided in Article 3 (commencing with Section 1820) of this chapter or Article 3 (commencing with Section 2001) of Chapter 8. (b) This article does not apply where the proposed conservatee is an absentee as defined in Section 1403.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 1846. Section 1846.

In addition to the other required contents of the petition, if the proposed conservatee is a person who is missing and whose whereabouts is unknown, the petition shall state all of the following: (a) The proposed conservatee owns or is entitled to the possession of real or personal property located in this state. In a proceeding to transfer a conservatorship of a missing person to this state under Article 3 (commencing with Section 2001) of Chapter 8, this requirement is also satisfied if the petition states that the proposed conservatee owns or is entitled to the possession of personal property that is to be relocated to this state upon approval of the transfer. (b) The time and circumstance of the person’s disappearance and that the missing person has not been heard from by the persons most likely to hear (naming them and their relationship to the missing person) since the time of disappearance and that the whereabouts of the missing person is unknown to those persons and to the petitioner. (c) The last known residence of the missing person. (d) A description of any search or inquiry made concerning the whereabouts of the missing person. (e) A description of the estate of the proposed conservatee which requires attention, supervision, and care.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 1847. Section 1847.

In addition to the persons and entities to whom notice of hearing is required under Section 1822 or 2002, if the proposed conservatee is a person who is missing and whose whereabouts is unknown: (a) A copy of the petition for appointment of a conservator and notice of the time and place of the hearing on the petition shall be delivered pursuant to Section 1215 at least 15 days before the hearing to the proposed conservatee at the last known address of the proposed conservatee. (b) Notice of the time and place of the hearing shall also be published pursuant to Section 6061 of the Government Code in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the proposed conservatee was last known to reside if the proposed conservatee’s last known address is in this state. (c) Pursuant to Section 1202, the court may require that further or additional notice of the hearing be given.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 1848. Section 1848.

(a) In a proceeding under Article 3 (commencing with Section 1820) to appoint a conservator of the estate of a person who is missing and whose whereabouts is unknown, the following acts are not required: (1) Issuance of a citation to the proposed conservatee pursuant to Section 1823. (2) Service of a citation and petition pursuant to Section 1824. (3) Production of the proposed conservatee at the hearing pursuant to Section 1825. (4) Performance of the duties of the court investigator pursuant to Section 1826. (5) Performance of any other act that depends upon knowledge of the location of the proposed conservatee. (b) In a proceeding to transfer a conservatorship of a missing person to this state under Article 3 (commencing with Section 2001) of Chapter 8, the following acts are not required: (1) Notice to the proposed conservatee pursuant to Section 2002. (2) Production of the proposed conservatee at the hearings pursuant to Section 2002. (3) Performance of the duties of the court investigator pursuant to Section 1851.1. (4) Performance of any other act that depends upon knowledge of the location of the proposed conservatee.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 1849. Section 1849.

A conservator of the estate of a person who is missing and whose whereabouts is unknown may be appointed only if the court finds all of the following: (a) The proposed conservatee owns or is entitled to the possession of real or personal property located in this state. In a proceeding to transfer a conservatorship of a missing person to this state under Article 3 (commencing with Section 2001) of Chapter 8, this requirement is also satisfied if the court finds that the proposed conservatee owns or is entitled to the possession of personal property that is to be relocated to this state upon approval of the transfer. (b) The proposed conservatee remains missing and his or her whereabouts remains unknown. (c) The estate of the proposed conservatee requires attention, supervision, and care.

Cal. Probate Code - PROB § 1849.5. Section 1849.5.

(a) A petition may be filed under this article regardless of when the proposed conservatee became missing or how long the proposed conservatee has been missing. (b) If a trustee was appointed pursuant to former Section 262, repealed by Chapter 201 of the Statutes of 1983, the provisions of former Sections 260 to 272, inclusive, repealed by Chapter 201 of the Statutes of 1983, continue to apply to the case after December 31, 1983, unless, upon a petition filed under this article after December 31, 1983, the trustee is replaced by a conservator.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026