Cost of Guardianship in DC — Filing Fees, Attorney Costs, and Bond Premiums

The Filing Fee

If you are petitioning for guardianship only (authority over the person), the DC Superior Court Probate Division charges no filing fee. If the petition includes a conservatorship (authority over finances) or a protective order, the filing fee is $45. Most families file for both simultaneously, so plan for the $45.

For families receiving means-tested public benefits — TANF, POWER, General Assistance for Children (GAC), or SSI — the court provides fee waivers through the "Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs." This waiver covers the filing fee and potentially other court costs, though it does not cover attorney fees or expert costs.

Court-Appointed Attorney and Expert Fees

Every guardianship proceeding requires the court to appoint three independent officers, and their fees come out of the ward's estate:

Court-appointed attorney for the subject. DC law requires the court to appoint an independent attorney to represent the parent's interests. This attorney has a fiduciary duty to the parent, not to the petitioner. Their fees are governed by Superior Court Probate Division Fee Petition Guidelines (Administrative Order 23-20) and typically bill at the court-approved hourly rate.

Examiner. A physician or psychologist appointed to evaluate the parent's capacity. The examiner conducts an independent clinical evaluation and submits a report to the court at least 10 days before the hearing.

Visitor. An independent evaluator who interviews the parent, assesses their living environment, and reports to the court on the parent's circumstances and needs.

These three appointments represent a significant cost even in uncontested cases. The examiner and visitor each bill for their evaluation time, report preparation, and potential court appearance; their fees are subject to court fee guidelines.

Attorney Fees for the Petitioner

If you hire a private attorney to prepare and file the petition, their fees are separate from the court-appointed costs. DC elder law attorneys typically charge:

• Uncontested guardianship: Private counsel fees vary; local elder-law retainers typically start around $3,000–$5,000
• Contested guardianship: Additional hearings, opposing counsel, or expert testimony can increase the total

The overall cost of an intervention proceeding often ranges from $5,000 to over $14,000 depending on complexity.

Conservatorship Bond Premiums

If the court appoints a conservator (for financial authority), D.C. Code § 21-2062 requires a fiduciary bond. The bond protects the ward's estate against financial mismanagement.

A full bond covers the total value of the ward's liquid and personal assets plus one year of estimated income. Bond premiums depend on the bond amount and the surety; obtain a current quote.

The court may approve a reduced bond, but assets not covered by the bond are frozen — no sales, transfers, or encumbrances without prior judicial approval. This can create problems if the parent's largest asset is their home and the family needs to sell it to pay for care.

Ongoing Annual Costs

The costs do not end at appointment. Guardians and conservators face ongoing fees:

• Progressive estate fees: Annual court costs based on the estate's personal property value, ranging from $15 for estates under $2,500 to $1,275+ for larger estates
• DC real property fee: $25 flat fee if the estate includes District real property
• Bond renewal: Annual premium for the conservator's bond
• Filing objections: $25 per objection
• Late-filing motions: $20 per motion for leave to late-file

These costs accumulate year over year for the duration of the guardianship, which often lasts until the parent's death.

Filing Pro Se to Reduce Costs

Families can file the guardianship petition pro se (without an attorney) to eliminate the petitioner's legal fees. The DC Superior Court provides the required forms through the Probate Division, and LawHelp.org/DC offers guided form-completion tools for self-represented litigants.

Pro se filing eliminates the $3,000–$7,000 attorney fee but does not reduce court-appointed costs. The examiner, visitor, and the parent's attorney still must be paid. And pro se petitioners still face the same procedural requirements — strict notice timelines, service of process rules, and evidentiary standards at the hearing.

Pro se is most viable for uncontested cases where no family member is expected to object. If there is any chance of opposition, hiring experienced counsel is worth the cost — procedural errors in a contested case can result in dismissal and the need to start over.

The DC Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit provides the complete pro se petition guidance, including annotated forms, notice templates, and plain-language instructions for preparing the post-appointment reports — reducing the cost of navigating the process without eliminating the court-mandated expenses.

See more District of Columbia guides →