Cost of Guardianship in Arkansas: Complete Fee Breakdown for Aging Parents

You've been told your parent needs a legal guardian, and the first question is how much this is going to cost. The answer depends on whether any family member objects — an uncontested guardianship runs roughly $3,500 to $5,000 total, while a contested case can exceed $10,000 in attorney fees alone.

Here is every cost you should expect.

Mandatory Court and Filing Fees

These fees apply to every guardianship petition, regardless of complexity:

• Circuit court filing fee: $165 (required to file the initial Petition for Appointment of Guardian, Form 24)
• Certified copies of Letters of Guardianship: $50 per certified set (you will need multiple copies for banks, hospitals, and government agencies)
• Annual accounting filing fee: $10 per year (for filing the guardian's financial report, Form 31)

Professional Evaluation Costs

Arkansas law requires a formal medical or psychological evaluation of the proposed ward before the court will appoint a guardian:

• Physician or psychologist evaluation: $300 to $1,500, depending on the evaluator and whether neuropsychological testing is required
• The evaluation must be completed within 6 months of the court hearing date
• Cost is paid by the ward's estate if guardianship is granted, or by the petitioner if the petition is denied

Attorney Ad Litem

The court appoints an independent attorney ad litem to represent the parent's interests — this is mandatory, not optional:

• Attorney ad litem fee: $500 to $1,500 for an uncontested case
• Paid from the ward's estate
• The fee increases substantially if the case involves contested issues, multiple hearings, or complex assets

Private Attorney Representation

If you hire a private attorney to represent you as the petitioner:

• Uncontested guardianship: $2,000 to $5,000 total (filing through appointment)
• Contested guardianship: $5,000 to $15,000+ (when siblings or other family members object, requiring depositions, additional hearings, and trial preparation)

Surety Bond

Once appointed, the guardian of the estate must purchase a corporate surety bond to protect the ward's assets:

• Bond amount: Set by the court, typically equal to the total value of the ward's personal property plus expected annual income
• Annual premium: Tiered rates — approximately $85 flat for bonds up to $17,000, then $5 per $1,000 for higher amounts
• The bond must be maintained annually for the duration of the guardianship

Ongoing Annual Costs

Guardianship is not a one-time expense. Every year, the guardian must:

• File Form 31 (Accounting by Guardian) — $10 filing fee plus the time to prepare a detailed financial report
• File Form 32 (Annual Report of Guardian of the Person) — documenting the ward's physical, mental, and social condition
• Renew the surety bond premium
• If using an attorney to prepare annual filings, expect $500 to $1,000 per year in legal fees

The Real Cost Comparison

The total cost of even an uncontested Arkansas guardianship — conservatively $3,500 to $5,000 upfront plus $500 to $1,500 in annual ongoing costs — dwarfs the cost of proactive planning. A durable power of attorney executed while the parent still has mental capacity requires only a notary fee and avoids court involvement entirely.

The window for proactive planning closes permanently once a physician determines that the parent lacks the cognitive capacity to understand and sign legal documents. At that point, guardianship is the only remaining path, and the costs above become unavoidable.

The Arkansas Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit for Aging Parents covers both scenarios — the proactive power of attorney documents that bypass court entirely, and the step-by-step guardianship petition process with all required court forms for families who have passed the capacity threshold.

See more Arkansas guides →