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How much does it cost to file for guardianship?
Filing a guardianship petition costs $225 to $435 in the states that publish a statewide figure — less for a guardianship of the person only, more when the estate (money and property) is included. Investigation fees, where the court charges them, come on top.
Verified guardianship filing fees
| State | Petition | Filing fee |
|---|---|---|
| California | Guardian of the person only | $225 (Gov. Code §70654) |
| California | Guardian of the person and estate, or conservator | $435 (Gov. Code §70653) |
| Florida | Guardianship proceedings of the person only | Up to $230 by statute (§28.2401); Collier County charges $235 |
| Florida | Guardianship or conservatorship proceedings | Up to $395 by statute, plus the $4 statutory service charge — Collier County charges $400 |
| Florida | Petition to determine incapacity (filed alongside) | Up to $230 by statute; Collier County charges $231 |
| Washington | Guardianship / conservatorship filing (King County) | $290 — no fee if the petition alleges the person's total assets are under $3,000 |
| Washington | Minor guardianship filing (King County) | $290 — no fee when the person seeking appointment is a relative |
The second layer: investigations
Before appointing a guardian, the court investigates. Some courts absorb that cost; California prices it on the statewide schedule: a $300 guardianship investigation fee (Prob. Code §1513.1) and a $450 conservatorship investigator's fee (Prob. Code §1851.5, amount set by the court). A temporary or emergency guardianship petition in California costs a further $60 (Gov. Code §70657(a)(4)); Washington's emergency guardianship filing in King County is the same $290 as a standard filing.
The third layer: annual accountings
A guardian of the estate reports to the court every year, and some states charge for auditing the report. Florida's schedule (Fla. Stat. §744.3678, as charged by the Collier County Clerk) is graduated by the value of the ward's estate: $0 at $25,000 or less, $85 up to $100,000, $170 up to $500,000, and $250 above that. Budget for this every year the guardianship lasts.
Texas: no guardianship filing figure for Texas appears on the official statewide schedules we read — Texas guardianships are filed in probate or county courts whose fees are set at county level. Confirm the current fee with the probate clerk where the case will be filed, and see the Texas guide for the fees that are statewide.
Guardianship or adoption?
Guardianship is revocable and does not change the child's legal parentage; adoption does, permanently. Families often file guardianship first (it is faster in an emergency) and adopt later. Where the person who died left an estate the ward inherits from, the probate cost guide covers the estate side.
Can't afford the fee?
See the fee waiver guide — and note the built-in waivers above: Washington charges nothing when the ward's assets are under $3,000, and nothing for a relative petitioning for a minor.
Sources: California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (Judicial Council, effective January 1, 2026), rows 128–133 and 162–164 · Fla. Stat. §§28.2401, 744.3678 and the Collier County Clerk — Guardianship Fees · King County Superior Court and Clerk's Fee Schedule (effective June 11, 2026). Researched October 2026 — confirm current figures with the court clerk.
State figures: see each state guide for its named official source.