Section 2620.2 Of Article 3. Accounts From California Probate Code >> Division 4. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 3.
2620.2
. (a) Whenever the conservator or guardian has failed to file
an accounting as required by Section 2620, the court shall require
that written notice be given to the conservator or guardian and the
attorney of record for the conservatorship or guardianship directing
the conservator or guardian to file an accounting and to set the
accounting for hearing before the court within 30 days of the date of
the notice or, if the conservator or guardian is a public agency,
within 45 days of the date of the notice. The court may, upon cause
shown, grant an additional 30 days to file the accounting.
(b) Failure to file the accounting within the time specified under
subdivision (a), or within 45 days of actual receipt of the notice,
whichever is later, shall constitute a contempt of the authority of
the court as described in Section 1209 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(c) If the conservator or guardian does not file an accounting
with all appropriate supporting documentation and set the accounting
for hearing as required by Section 2620, the court shall do one or
more of the following and shall report that action to the bureau
established pursuant to Section 6510 of the Business and Professions
Code:
(1) Remove the conservator or guardian as provided under Article 1
(commencing with Section 2650) of Chapter 9 of Part 4 of Division 4.
(2) Issue and serve a citation requiring a guardian or conservator
who does not file a required accounting to appear and show cause why
the guardian or conservator should not be punished for contempt. If
the guardian or conservator purposely evades personal service of the
citation, the guardian or conservator shall be immediately removed
from office.
(3) Suspend the powers of the conservator or guardian and appoint
a temporary conservator or guardian, who shall take possession of the
assets of the conservatorship or guardianship, investigate the
actions of the conservator or guardian, and petition for surcharge if
this is in the best interests of the ward or conservatee.
Compensation for the temporary conservator or guardian, and counsel
for the temporary conservator or guardian, shall be treated as a
surcharge against the conservator or guardian, and if unpaid shall be
considered a breach of condition of the bond.
(4) (A) Appoint legal counsel to represent the ward or conservatee
if the court has not suspended the powers of the conservator or
guardian and appoint a temporary conservator or guardian pursuant to
paragraph (3). Compensation for the counsel appointed for the ward or
conservatee shall be treated as a surcharge against the conservator
or guardian, and if unpaid shall be considered a breach of a
condition on the bond, unless for good cause shown the court finds
that counsel for the ward or conservatee shall be compensated
according to Section 1470. The court shall order the legal counsel to
do one or more of the following:
(i) Investigate the actions of the conservator or guardian, and
petition for surcharge if this is in the best interests of the ward
or conservatee.
(ii) Recommend to the court whether the conservator or guardian
should be removed.
(iii) Recommend to the court whether money or other property in
the estate should be deposited pursuant to Section 2453, 2453.5,
2454, or 2455, to be subject to withdrawal only upon authorization of
the court.
(B) After resolution of the matters for which legal counsel was
appointed in subparagraph (A), the court shall terminate the
appointment of legal counsel, unless the court determines that
continued representation of the ward or conservatee and the estate is
necessary and reasonable.
(5) If the conservator or guardian is exempt from the licensure
requirements of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division
3 of the Business and Professions Code, upon ex parte application or
any notice as the court may require, extend the time to file the
accounting, not to exceed an additional 30 days after the expiration
of the deadline described in subdivision (a), where the court finds
there is good cause and that the estate is adequately bonded. After
expiration of any extensions, if the accounting has not been filed,
the court shall take action as described in paragraphs (1) to (3),
inclusive.
(d) Subdivision (c) does not preclude the court from additionally
taking any other appropriate action in response to a failure to file
a proper accounting in a timely manner.