Paris ( CNN ) -- A judge placed France 's richest woman , L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt , under the guardianship of her grandson on Monday , her lawyer said . Bertrand Favreau , one of Bettencourt 's lawyers , said Jean-Victor Meyers , the eldest grandson of the 88 year-old woman , has been designated her guardian . `` It is a very disappointing decision that 's for sure . It will be hard for me to tell her this decision because it will be unbearable for her , '' Favreau said . Last year , Bettencourt 's daughter , Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers , declared in court that her mother was not mentally competent to handle her own affairs . Bettencourt-Meyers accused a photographer of bilking her mother out of a billion euros . Bettencourt was friends with the photographer , Francois-Marie Banier , and allegedly gave him the money . The daughter took the case to court in an effort to recover the funds . She later dropped the suit . In a statement Monday , Bettencourt-Meyers and her two sons , Jean-Victor and Nicolas , acknowledged the ruling . `` Their action has always been guided by the sole wish to see their mother and grandmother truly protected , '' the statement said of the three . `` It is a great relief for them today that ( the judge ) has recognized their position . '' In an interview published Sunday in France 's Journal du Dimanche , Bettencourt said she was worried about the judge 's decision on Monday . `` I 'm trembling , all I can do is pray . Do you think the judge will agree with my daughter ? '' said Bettencourt in the interview . `` I 'm not going to sleep well tonight . I have a feeling I 'm going to be squashed . '' Favreau plans to consult with Bettencourt on appealing the ruling and ask that its enforcement be suspended . CNN 's James Partington contributed to this report .
Wife : Bettencourt 's daughter , they say the ruling is a ` ` relief '' Bettencourt 's daughter says her mother is not mentally competent to handle her own affairs . Her lawyer plans to work with her to appeal the decision .