Jessica G. Babrick

Babrick said she maintains a practice in probate, trusts and estates because of the people.

“You feel like you’re making a difference at a difficult time in someone’s life over issues that really matter to them,” she said. “It’s their family, and it’s honoring their family and it’s the relationships among family members. Sometimes it impacts generations, so I think that’s what really keeps me going.”

And sometimes those families belong to rock-and-roll royalty.

Babrick represents Jane Benyo, rock legend Tom Petty’s first wife, who she helped emerge from a conservatorship, which can often be difficult.

“Many people put in a conservatorship don’t recover because they have dementia, or they were in some sort of catastrophic accident or something like that where it’s harder to recover from,” Babrick explained.

In Benyo’s case, it was mental health issues and drug problems that initiated a conservatorship. Babrick wasn’t there from the get go and was brought on to end the conservatorship, which was a challenge.

“The court appointed attorney had been dismissed,” Babrick said.

Those under a conservatorship often lose many basic freedoms, including financial decisions.

“Technically, you’re not allowed to represent a conservatee, they don’t have the right to contract,” Babrick said. “So it made it procedurally sort of interesting. How am I going to maneuver to get her out of this untenable situation?”

After several hearings and being granted ex parte relief, Babrick was hired, obtained the necessary paperwork and lifted Benyo’s conservatorship.

“She’s writing an autobiography, which should be really interesting,” Babrick said. “She was really Tom’s muse and partner for so many years.”

Since the end of the conservatorship, Benyo has also become part of the process of administering her late ex-husband’s estate.

— Arin Mikailian