Brian Wilson, the legendary co-founder and creative force behind the Beach Boys, has been placed under a court-ordered conservatorship due to cognitive decline.
The decision stems from concerns raised by Wilson’s family and inner circle following the January death of his wife, Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who had previously managed most aspects of his personal and medical affairs.
During the hearing, Judge Gus T. May of the Los Angeles Superior Court determined that clear and convincing evidence demonstrated the 81-year-old musical luminary suffers from a “major neurocognitive disorder.”
This impairment, which his doctor indicates requires medication for dementia, renders Wilson incapable of meeting his own needs for health care, nourishment, clothing, and shelter.
The judge appointed two of Wilson’s longstanding representatives, publicist Jean Sievers and manager LeeAnn Hard, to serve as his co-conservators.
No substantial objections were raised, though two of Wilson’s seven children, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, stipulated through their attorney that all siblings be included in a group messaging chain regarding their father’s condition and consulted on medical decisions.
An attorney independently appointed by the court to advocate for Wilson’s interests, Robert Frank Cipriano, conducted an evaluation that bolstered the case for conservatorship.
In his report, Cipriano described visiting Wilson at his “impeccably well maintained residence in Beverly Hills,” where he resides with two of his daughters and a live-in caregiver. While able to ambulate with assistance from a walker and the caregiver, Wilson exhibited very limited cognizance, unable to even identify most of his children beyond those living with him.
Cipriano characterized Wilson as “mostly difficult to understand and [giving] very short responses to questions and comments,” yet ultimately approved of the conservatorship arrangement due to Wilson’s apparent consent.
Wilson’s situation aligns with the more conventional usage of conservatorships for elderly individuals experiencing irreversible cognitive decline, unlike popstar Britney Spears’ recently controversial conservatorship.
His assets had already been placed into a trust overseen by Hard prior to the court petition.
Wilson’s wife had been credited with rehabilitating his once-turbulent life marred by substance abuse and mental health challenges after their marriage in 1995. The family statement surrounding the conservatorship filing affirmed their objective was ensuring Wilson could “continue to work on current projects” while experiencing “no extreme changes” amidst enhanced oversight of his personal care and medical decisions.