Q&A: What is a Conservatorship and Why Was Michael Oher Under One?

NFL player Michael Oher found himself in the spotlight after the 2009 movie “The Blind Side,” depicting his life of supposed adoption out of poverty into an affluent family. Earlier this month, Oher shocked fans after alleging that the film’s premise is a lie and that the Tuohy family never adopted him. 

According to Oher’s petition, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy never adopted him but had him sign an agreement to make the couple his conservators. This allowed them to make business deals in his name, which enabled them to make millions in royalties from the movie based on his life.

This is not the first time a Conservatorship has made headlines. When a judge suspended her conservatorship, Britney Spears famously regained control of her life and finances. And while it is a buzzy topic, many need help understanding the intricacies of the legal mechanism. Professor Naomi Cahn of University of Virginia’s School of Law sat down with UVA Today to answer questions about conservatorships.

For more information see Alice Berry “Q&A: What is a Conservatorship and Why Was Michael Oher Under One?” UVA Today, August 22, 2023.