Section 14.17 General Powers and Duties

• Library: Estate Administration 2014 Supp

A. (§14.17) General Powers and Duties

The conservator of an estate of a minor or a disabled person has a general obligation to protect, preserve, and manage the estate. Section 475.130.1, RSMo Supp. 2008. The conservator must invest the estate funds prudently. Id. The conservator has a general obligation to use the degree of care, skill, and prudence that an ordinarily prudent person uses in managing the property of and conducting transactions on behalf of others and to avoid conflicts of interest that impair the conservator’s ability to so act. Id. A conservator who has special skills is under a duty to use those skills in conducting the protectee’s affairs. Id.

The conservator has a general duty to provide for the care of the protectee and to expend the funds of the protectee for that purpose. A court may limit that generalized duty. Section 475.010(3), RSMo 2000. A “limited conservator” only has the authority to perform the acts and control the assets that the court...