10622 Bonding of Conservators
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10622 Bonding of Conservators

 

The Secretary of Department for Children and Families (DCF) is appointed by the court to act as surety on the bond of any conservator providing advocacy services to a conservatee under contract with the Kansas Guardianship Program (KGP). This means:

 

  1. KGP volunteers do not have to provide a surety bond, either paid by themselves or the conservatee.
  2. The DCF bond should be large enough to deal adequately with the estate (the law says125% of the liquid assets of the estate) but not over the amount required by law K.S.A. 59-3014(d).
  3. Total resources must be included.
  4. It may be necessary to write two bonds; one at the time of the hearing when resources may not be known, and one after the inventory has been filed thirty (30) days following the hearing. In some cases, there may be substantial funds in the estate.
  5. The DCF surety bond cannot be used unless DCF is the petitioner.
  6. The court may waive a bond if there is no property in the estate. However, it is important that there be at least a minimum bond in KGP cases.

In situations where the conservator is a non-KGP volunteer, the court will sometimes allow bonds solely upon the signature of the conservator. This happens when family members are appointed to serve as conservator for a very small estate. In that instance, the individual may sign a signature bond of certain amount.