St. Paul, MN family law attorney Letty Van Ert explains when a conservatorship or guardianship would be used in family law in Minnesota. She notes that in family law, a guardianship may be necessary if a party to a divorce lacks the capacity to make decisions regarding the proceedings. In such cases, the court can appoint a guardian to guide them through the case and make decisions on their behalf.

A conservatorship, on the other hand, may be required when someone needs assistance managing underlying assets. This could arise even after the divorce if the individual is awarded property but does not have the capacity to handle those assets independently.