A judge has ruled that The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson should be placed under a court conservatorship due to a “major neurocognitive disorder”.
The initial court documents seeking the conservatorship were filed in February, citing the belief that the 81-year-old was no longer able to care for himself.
Now, the Los Angeles superior court judge Gus T. May approved the petition, which had been submitted by Wilson’s family and close friends. “I find from clear and convincing evidence that a conservatorship of the person is necessary,” he said.
Wilson’s longtime representatives LeeAnn Hard, his business manager, and Jean Sievers, his publicist, will act as co-conservators.
The decision comes following the death of Wilson’s wife and longtime manager Melinda Ledbetter Wilson, who had been acting as the music legend’s caregiver and taking care of his needs after a decline in his health.
The judge said that the evidence showed that Wilson clearly consented to the new arrangement and accepts that he lacks the capacity to tend to decisions regarding his own healthcare.
Two of Wilson’s children, Carnie and Wendy, who achieved success as part of the group Wilson Phillips, will be consulted on medical decisions and included in text conversations about their father’s health.
The court documents filed by Hard and Sievers asked the court to allow them to become co-conservators due to Wilson’s “major neurocognitive disorders (including dementia)”, leaving him unable to “properly provide for his own personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter”.
The two longtime representatives have also said that under the conservatorship, it is their “intent to ensure that all of Mr. Wilson’s daily living needs are satisfied and he has the best possible care while remaining in his home”.
The Wilson family shared a statement, reading: “Following the passing of Brian’s beloved wife Melinda, after careful consideration and consultation among Brian, his seven children, Gloria Ramos and Brian’s doctors (and consistent with family processes put in place by Brian and Melinda), we are confirming that longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers will serve as Brian’s co-conservators of the person.”
“This decision was made to ensure that there will be no extreme changes to the household and Brian and the children living at home will be taken care of and remain in the home where they are cared for by Gloria Ramos and the wonderful team at the house who have been in place for many years helping take care of the family.”
It concluded: “Brian will be able to enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses.”
In other Wilson news, a new documentary about The Beach Boys is coming to Disney+ on May 24. Titled The Beach Boys, the film will be a “celebration of the legendary band that revolutionised pop music and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come”.
A long-lost country album recorded by Wilson in the early 1970s has also finally been scheduled for release. ‘Cows In The Pasture’ is expected sometime in 2025.