Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson put under conservatorship
Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys founder whose life was chronicled in the movie “Love & Mercy,” was placed under a conservatorship Thursday more than three months after the death of wife Melinda Wilson, who was his primary caregiver.
Wilson’s publicist, Jean Sievers, and business manager LeeAnn Hard were appointed Thursday as conservators. Hard is also trustee of the estate of the singer and musical innovator, who has dementia. The February petition seeking the conservatorship stated that Sievers and Hard “have had a close relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson for many years, and Mr. Wilson trusts them.”
The conservatorship, approved by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gus T. May, covers Wilson’s person only – i.e., decisions related to his personal care and health care decisions. The 81year-old’s estate is handled by his trust.
“The court finds that the proposed conservatee consents and does not object to the conservatorship of the person,” May wrote Thursday in a document obtained by The Times. “The court finds from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary and appropriate in that the proposed conservatee is unable to care for his/her person and the conservatorship is the least restrictive alternative needed for the protection of conservatee.”
The primary composer behind the “Pet Sounds” album and most of the Beach Boys music, in addition to his own solo work, “has a major neurocognitive disorder,” according to the court, “and lacks capacity to give informed medical consent for medications.”
The February petition stated that Wilson has been taking medication for dementia and is incapable of self-administering medicine and sticking to his medication schedule. His psychiatrist, Dr. Stephen S. Marmer, said in a declaration that Wilson has major impairments in information processing and alertness.