Brian Wilson's Conservatorship: Children Will Be Consulted On Medical Decisions

Beach Boys music icon Brian Wilson's conservatorship has been approved by a judge four months after the petition was filed.

The record producer's inner circle and family moved to appoint a guardian to handle the 81-year-old's personal and medical decisions following the death of his former caretaker, his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson.

At a recent hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gus T. May approved the conservatorship petition because of Wilson's medical condition. The singer's doctor described it as a "major neurocognitive disorder," such as dementia.

The judge stressed that evidence showed Wilson's consent to the arrangement, which is crucial as he cannot make health care decisions. "I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary," May said.

On that note, the judge approved Wilson's longtime representatives — publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard — as his conservators, per WDTN. May's choice didn't receive any objections, including from Wilson's children.

Given that there were no objections to the judge's appointment of Wilson's new guardians, it was clear that a consensus had been reached among the singer's family and his longtime reps.

This wasn't the case last month, when two of the singer's seven children, Carnie and Wendy Wilson from the singing group Wilson Phillips, raised objections. They asked for a delay in the process at an April 30 hearing, noting they had issues to work out.

It seemed their differences had been resolved at the latest hearing, with the siblings' only request being to be a part of the conservators' decisions. They asked through their attorney that all of Wilson's children be added to a group text chain.

There, they would all be consulted on their father's medical decisions. The judge approved their stipulations, officially making Wilson's children a part of his healthcare decision-makers.

Robert Frank Cipriano, the attorney appointed by the court to represent Wilson's interests, shared his approval of the music legend's conservatorship. In a report, he stressed that he supported the petition primarily because of the 81-year-old's general consent.

According to Cipriano, Wilson acknowledged the need for the conservatorship and trusted in the judgment of his longtime reps as his guardians. The attorney also recalled meeting the icon at his "impeccably well-maintained residence in Beverly Hills."

He noted that Wilson lives with two daughters and a long-term live-in caregiver, who assisted in managing his day-to-day activities. As for his well-being, Cipriano stated the entertainer has a good sense of who he is, where he is, and when it is.

However, Wilson could not name his children beyond those who lived with him. He was also "mostly difficult to understand and gave very short responses to questions and comments."

As reported by The Blast, news of Wilson's conservatorship petition broke in February, shortly after his wife's death. In the documents, his team stressed that he was incapable of making critical decisions and needed the help, writing:

"The (proposed) conservatee does NOT have the capacity to informed consent to the administration of medications appropriate to the care and treatment of major neurocognitive disorders (including dementia.)"

Wilson's team explained that he was currently taking medication to "slow the progression of the illness." However, he desperately needed a conservator to help with decision-making and other tasks.

They backed their claim with a statement from a doctor about the 81-year-old's condition. The medical professional claimed Wilson was "easily distracted, often even when aware of surroundings, and its purpose."

As stated, the conservatorship petition was filed shortly after Wilson's wife passed away on January 30, 2024. The documents noted that she handled his "daily living needs" but failed to name a successor before her death.

"Accordingly, a conservator of the person needs to be appointed for Mr. Wilson due to Mrs. Wilson's passing and the lack of a successor agent named in his Advance Health Care Directive," the document argued.

Wilson's reps noted they had his best interests at heart, stressing that "Ms. Siever's and Ms. Hard's intend to ensure that all of Mr. Wilson's daily living needs are satisfied and he has the best possible care while remaining in his home."