My mother has a power of attorney; do I still need a conservatorship?

Typically, a power of attorney provides sufficient authority to an agent to make legal and financial decisions on behalf of the principal. However, sometimes a conservatorship is still necessary in certain circumstances. Sometimes, the power of attorney is defective or the agent named in the power of attorney has died. In other cases, a son or daughter might be named in a power of attorney but that individual is not acting in the best interests of the parent or may be self-dealing. In those circumstances, the court will have the discretion to revoke the power of attorney and appoint a different conservator.