Cost of Guardianship in Kansas: Filing Fees, Attorney Costs, and Hidden Expenses
The Real Price Tag of Court-Ordered Guardianship
Families expecting guardianship to cost a few hundred dollars in court fees are in for a shock. Kansas guardianship under the 2026 KUGCOPAA framework involves mandatory medical evaluations, court-appointed attorneys, potential surety bonds, and ongoing annual reporting obligations — each with its own price tag.
Here's every cost you're likely to face, broken down by stage.
Upfront Filing Costs
Court filing fee: $91.50 to $93.50, depending on the county. Sedgwick County (Wichita) charges $93.50; Leavenworth and Cowley counties charge $91.50. The fee covers the docket filing and local court technology and library surcharges.
Mandatory medical evaluation (K.S.A. 59-3064): $250 to $500. A licensed physician, psychologist, or social worker must personally examine the adult and complete the Report of Examination and Evaluation. Complex cognitive assessments (common with dementia cases) tend toward the higher end.
Publication fees: Variable by publication and county. Confirm the current amount and publication requirement with the clerk before filing.
Service of process: Variable. The petition and Notification of Rights must be personally served on the adult; confirm the current sheriff or process-server fee with the clerk.
Attorney Fees
Court-appointed attorney for the adult: Under the 2026 law, the court must appoint an attorney to represent the adult subject to the petition. This attorney acts as a zealous advocate for the adult's expressed wishes. The amount varies and may be paid from the adult's estate or by the petitioner if the estate cannot cover it.
Petitioner's attorney: If you hire an elder law attorney to handle the filing, expect $3,500 to $8,000 for an uncontested guardianship — one where no family member opposes the petition and the facts are straightforward.
Contested guardianship: When family members disagree about who should be appointed, or whether guardianship is necessary at all, costs can escalate quickly. Multiple hearings, expert witnesses, or appeals add further attorney and court costs.
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Conservator Bond
If the court appoints a conservator to manage the adult's financial estate, it will set a surety bond amount — essentially an insurance policy protecting the estate from the conservator's potential mismanagement.
Bond premiums typically run 0.5% to 1.0% of the total estate value annually. For a parent with $200,000 in assets, that's $1,000 to $2,000 per year for as long as the conservatorship remains active.
The bond must be maintained for as long as the court requires it. Confirm renewal requirements with the court or surety.
Ongoing Annual Costs
Guardianship doesn't end at the hearing. Post-appointment obligations carry recurring costs:
| Annual Obligation | Typical Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guardian's annual report | $0 if self-filed; professional fees vary | Updates the court on the adult's condition, medical care, and living arrangements |
| Conservator's annual accounting | Professional fees vary | Detailed record of all income, expenditures, and asset changes |
| Surety bond renewal | 0.5%–1.0% of estate value | Required every year the conservatorship is active |
| Instructional program completion | No separate fee identified | One-time requirement, but the affidavit must be filed with the court |
Total Cost Comparison
For an uncontested guardianship with a modest estate:
| Cost Component | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $91.50 | $93.50 |
| Medical evaluation | $250 | $500 |
| Publication | Variable | Variable |
| Service of process | Variable | Variable |
| Petitioner's attorney | $3,500 | $8,000 |
| Court-appointed attorney | Variable | Variable |
| Year 1 total | Variable | Variable |
| Annual bond + accounting (ongoing) | Bond: 0.5%–1.0% of estate; accounting varies | Bond: 0.5%–1.0% of estate; accounting varies |
For contested cases, expect additional attorney and hearing costs.
The Alternative That Costs Almost Nothing
A durable power of attorney — financial and healthcare — can cost $0 to prepare using free Kansas forms and a notary. Even if drafted by an attorney as part of a comprehensive estate plan, the research range is $500 to $1,500 — a fraction of the cheapest guardianship scenario.
The catch: a POA only works if it's executed while the parent still has cognitive capacity to sign. Once capacity is gone, the court process is your only option.
The Kansas Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit covers both paths — the straightforward POA route that avoids court entirely, and the full guardianship filing process with every form, fee schedule, and procedural requirement documented.
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Download the Kansas — Power of Attorney Quick-Start Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.