---
title: O.C.G.A. § 29-5-20. Rights of adult ward; impact on right to vote or testamentary capacity.
collection: code
id: 29-5-20
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 29-5-20 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/29-5-20
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/29-5-20.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/29-5-20/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t27-t30-(v22)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f493d811_0#page=669
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/29-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/29-5-17.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/29-5-21.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: GUARDIAN AND WARD / CONSERVATORS OF ADULTS / RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF WARD
---

# O.C.G.A. § 29-5-20. Rights of adult ward; impact on right to vote or testamentary capacity.

(a) In every conservatorship the ward has the right to:

(1) A qualified conservator who acts in the best interest of the ward;

(2) A conservator who is reasonably accessible to the ward;

(3) Have the ward’s property utilized as necessary to provide adequately for the ward’s support, care, education, health, and welfare;

(4) Communicate freely and privately with persons other than the conservator, except as otherwise ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction;

(5) Individually, or through the ward’s representative or legal counsel, bring an action relating to the conservatorship, including the right to file a petition alleging that the ward is being unjustly denied a right or privilege granted by Chapter 4 of this title and this chapter and the right to bring an action to modify or terminate the conservatorship pursuant to the provisions of Code Sections 29-5-71 and 29-5-72;

(6) The least restrictive form of conservatorship, taking into consideration the ward’s functional limitations, personal needs, and preferences; and

(7) Be restored to capacity at the earliest possible time.

(b) The appointment of a conservator is not a determination regarding the right of the ward to vote.

(c) The appointment of a conservator is not a determination that the ward lacks testamentary capacity.

## History

Code 1981, § 29-5-20, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 161, § 1.