Beach Boys star Brian Wilson, 81, officially under conservatorship following mental decline-Rebecca Sayce-Entertainment – Metro

Brian Wilson’s family and loved ones filed a petition in February for him to be placed under a conservatorship (Picture: Steve Thorne/Redferns)

Beach Boys star Brian Wilson has been placed under a conservatorship due to his deteriorating health, a judge has ruled.

The music icon, 81, and Beach Boys founding member’s loved ones filed a petition for a conservatorship due to what doctors described as a ‘major neurocognitive disorder’ during a hearing in Los Angeles.

A conservatorship is a legal ruling in which a guardian is appointed to a minor or incapacitated person to manage their financial and personal affairs. Britney Spears is another celebrity who has been put under a court-ordered conservatorship in recent years until it was terminated.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gus T. May approved the petition for a conservatorship filed by Wilson’s family and loved ones following the death of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, in January.

Wilson’s publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard have been appointed by May to be the star’s conservatorship, under the stipulations that his children be kept informed about their father via a text messaging group, and that they are all consulted on medical decisions.

‘I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary,’ May said at the hearing, adding that the evidence shows the musician lacks the capacity to make health care decisions.

The founding member of the Beach Boys had the ruling approved (Picture: Bettmann Archive)

A doctor described the musician as having a ‘major cognitive disorder’ (Picture: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

A doctor’s declaration filed alongside the petition in February stated Wilson is taking medication for dementia, has a ‘major cognitive disorder’ and is ‘unable to properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter.’

Robert Frank Cipriano, an attorney representing Wilson, said the star acknowledged the need for the conservatorship and trusts both Sievers and Hard, who have had a close relationship with Wilson and his wife for many years.

Cipriano’s report said Wilson was ‘mostly difficult to understand and gave very short responses to questions and comments’ when he visited the star’s home, where he lives with two of his daughters and a live-in carer.

He added that Wilson could not name his children beyond knowing that two live with him.

Wilson himself, his children, his caregiver, and doctors consulted before the petition for a conservatorship was filed, with a family statement saying the decision was to ensure ‘Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects.’

Wilson’s late wife Melinda previously handled his affairs and care (Picture: Jeff Snyder/FilmMagic)

The petition sees his publicist and manager become his conservators (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The petition did not seek a conservator for his estate as his assets are in a trust, with Hard acting as a trustee.

Judges in California can appoint a conservator for a person, their estate, or both. Pop icon Britney’s conservatorship covered both her as a person and her estate, which proved controversial.

Put in place in 2008, for 13 years the singer’s father Jamie had managed Britney’s wellbeing and financial affairs along with a bank.

Demands to end the conservatorship peaked after the mother-of-two told a court that the conservatorship was ‘abusive’. 

Among her claims, she alleged that she was blocked from having another child by being made to keep an IUD in her body, and was not even allowed to be driven in a car by her former husband Sam Asghari.

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