Section 93-20-418 - Duties of conservator(1) A conservator is a fiduciary and has duties of prudence and loyalty to the ward.(2) A conservator must promote the self-determination of the ward and, to the extent feasible, encourage the ward to participate in decisions, act on the ward's own behalf, and develop or regain the capacity to manage the ward's personal affairs.(3) In making a decision for a ward, the conservator must make the decision the conservator reasonably believes the ward would make if able, unless doing so would fail to preserve the resources needed to maintain the ward's well-being and lifestyle or otherwise unreasonably harm or endanger the welfare or personal or financial interests of the ward. To determine the decision the ward would make if able, the conservator must consider the ward's prior or current directions, preferences, opinions, values, and actions, to the extent actually known or reasonably ascertainable by the conservator.(4) If a conservator cannot make a decision under subsection (3) because the conservator does not know and cannot reasonably determine the decision the ward probably would make if able, or the conservator reasonably believes the decision the individual would make would fail to preserve resources needed to maintain the ward's well-being and lifestyle or otherwise unreasonably harm or endanger the welfare or personal or financial interests of the ward, the conservator shall act in accordance with the best interest of the ward. In determining the best interest of the ward, the conservator shall consider: (a) Information received from professionals and persons who demonstrate sufficient interest in the welfare of the ward;(b) Other information the conservator believes the ward would have considered if the ward were able to act; and(c) Other factors a reasonable person in the circumstances of the ward would consider, including consequences for others.(5) Except when inconsistent with the conservator's duties under subsections (1) through (4), and where investments other than in FDIC-insured investments are permitted in the court's order approving the conservator's plan, a conservator must invest and manage the conservatorship estate as a prudent investor would, by considering: (a) The circumstances of the ward and the conservatorship estate;(b) General economic conditions;(c) The possible effect of inflation or deflation;(d) The expected tax consequences of an investment decision or strategy;(e) The role of each investment or course of action in relation to the conservatorship estate as a whole;(f) The expected total return from income and appreciation of capital;(g) The need for liquidity, regularity of income, and preservation or appreciation of capital; and(h) The special relationship or value, if any, of specific property to the ward.(6) The propriety of a conservator's investment and management of the conservatorship estate is determined in light of the facts and circumstances existing when the conservator decides or acts and not by hindsight.(7) A conservator must make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment and management of the conservatorship estate.(8) A conservator that has special skills or expertise, or is named conservator in reliance on the conservator's representation of special skills or expertise, has a duty to use the special skills or expertise in carrying out the conservator's duties.(9) In investing, selecting specific property for distribution, and invoking a power of revocation or withdrawal for the use or benefit of the ward, a conservator must consider any estate plan of the ward known or reasonably ascertainable to the conservator and may examine the will or other donative, nominative, or appointive instrument of the individual.(10) A conservator must maintain insurance on the insurable real and personal property of the ward, unless the conservatorship estate lacks sufficient funds to pay for insurance or the court finds:(a) The property lacks sufficient equity; or(b) Insuring the property would unreasonably dissipate the conservatorship estate or otherwise not be in the best interest of the ward.(11) A conservator has access to and authority over a digital asset of the ward to the extent provided by the Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (Title 91, Chapter 23, Mississippi Code of 1972).(12) A conservator for an adult must notify the court if the condition of the adult has changed so that the adult has become capable of autonomy in exercising rights previously delegated to the conservator. The notice must be given immediately on learning of the change.Added by Laws, 2019, ch. 463, SB 2828,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2020.