What Is Supported Decision-Making in California?
Supported Decision-Making (SDM) is a formal, written agreement in which an adult with a disability names one or more trusted supporters (family, friends, or professionals) to help them understand their options, make their own choices, and communicate those choices, without handing decision-making authority over to anyone else. It lets a person keep their own legal rights while getting real support from people they trust.
Not every adult who needs help with decisions needs someone else to make those decisions for them. That simple idea is the heart of Supported Decision-Making, and for many families weighing a conservatorship, it's an alternative worth understanding.
How is it different from Conservatorship?
The key distinction from conservatorship: with SDM, the person keeps their rights and no court is involved. Supporters advise and assist, they don't decide, and there's no judge, no petition, and no ongoing court oversight. Being disabled doesn't automatically mean being unable to make decisions, and SDM is built around that truth.
California now recognizes it in law
Supported Decision-Making isn't just a philosophy — it's part of California law. Assembly Bill 1663, signed in September 2022 and effective January 1, 2023, formally defined Supported Decision-Making and created a process for entering into a written supported decision-making agreement.
The same law reshaped how conservatorships work. Now, before granting a conservatorship petition, a judge is required to consider whether less restrictive alternatives — including a supported decision-making agreement, a power of attorney, or an advance health care directive — could meet the person's needs instead. Petitioners even have to tell the court which alternatives they explored. In short, California has made SDM something courts must actively weigh, not an afterthought.
How it works in practice
Supported Decision-Making is flexible and individualized. Once an agreement is in place, it can include things like:
A circle of trusted supporters. The person identifies who they want help from and for what kinds of decisions, perhaps medical, financial, or day-to-day matters.
Being present and heard. The person can bring a supporter to important meetings and communications, such as doctor's appointments or Regional Center meetings, to help them understand and participate.
Related tools to back it up. A HIPAA authorization or an education records release can support the arrangement so schools and providers respect it.
When Supported Decision-Making is a good fit — and when it isn't
SDM tends to work well for someone who can make sound decisions with guidance, who understands their choices when they're explained clearly, and who has trusted people willing to support them.
It may not be enough on its own when a person truly cannot understand or communicate decisions even with substantial support, or when there are urgent safety or financial-protection needs that require legal authority and court oversight. In those situations, a limited or general conservatorship may be the more appropriate — and protective — path.
Learn more — including at a free workshop
I offer free workshops that walk through conservatorship and its alternatives, including SDM, so families can make an informed choice rather than defaulting to court. You can watch a video of one of my 2025 workshops for Matrix Parent Network or get in touch to find out when my next live workshop is taking place. And you can set up a consultation with me, and I'll give you my honest read on which path actually fits — even if that means you don't need me to file a conservatorship at all.
You can also explore the Supported Decision-Making section on my Resources page where you’ll find some websites with great information.
This article is general information about California law and is not legal advice. Whether Supported Decision-Making is appropriate depends on the individual's abilities and needs. Please consult a qualified attorney or a Supported Decision-Making resource for guidance.
