Now that the wife of The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson has died, his family has filed for conservatorship of the singer. According to the family’s filing, Wilson has what is described as a “major neurocognitive disorder.” At 81 years old, Wilson had been living with his wife, Melinda, and several of their children, along with a staff that cares for the house and the family. To reduce the amount of change with the passing of Melinda, the staff and family will remain in the house.

Co-conservators for Wilson will be LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers, who are longtime representatives of the Wilson family. This decision was made by Wilson, his family, Wilson’s housekeeper Gloria Ramos, and Wilson’s doctors. Before Melinda’s death, the couple had put processes in place to prepare for a time when one of them would pass away. This conservatorship is consistent with those processes and ensures that Wilson’s routine will have as few disruptions as possible.

While Wilson may need some extra care and protection, he’ll still be able to work on projects that interest him, participate in any activities he wants to, and enjoy time with his family and friends. The goal of the conservatorship is simply to ensure that his affairs will be handled safely, and keep him from falling victim to unwise or unsafe decisions that can be brought about by cognitive decline or impairment conditions such as dementia.

The court filing also states that Wilson can’t provide for his own personal needs, including shelter, clothing, food, or physical health. Melinda passed away on January 30, 2024, at the age of 77, and was the one who typically took care of her husband and made sure all his daily living needs were met. She was the “agent’ named on his Advance Health Care Directive, and there was no successor listed.

Since that was the case, Wilson’s team asked for a conservator to be appointed by the court, with the goal of ensuring that Wilson would continue to live in his home and receive needed care. Hard and Sievers were selected due to their long-term closeness with the family.

There are no easy answers when it comes to eldercare or estate planning; you need to make the choices that make the most sense for your specific circumstances. A skilled attorney can help you structure a plan to meet your goals and protect what’s most important to you. Contact us today to learn more!