Guardianship Forms in DC — What You Need to File

The Forms You Need for an Adult Guardianship Petition

Filing for guardianship of an aging parent in the District of Columbia means filing an intervention proceeding with the Probate Division of the DC Superior Court, located at 515 5th Street NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20001. The division requires a specific package of forms filed together, and the Legal Branch reviews the submission for compliance before the case proceeds.

Here's what the filing package must include:

Petition for a General Proceeding. This is the primary document. It identifies the proposed ward (your parent), the petitioner (you), the relationship between you, and the specific authority you're requesting — guardianship (over the person), conservatorship (over finances), or both. The petition must state the factual basis for claiming the proposed ward is incapacitated.

Order Appointing Counsel, Examiner, Visitor, and/or Guardian ad Litem. A proposed order for the judge's signature. The court uses this to appoint the independent professionals who will evaluate the case: an attorney to represent the subject's interests, an examiner (physician or psychologist) to evaluate capacity, and a visitor to assess the subject's living environment.

Notice of Initial Hearing for Subject. The formal notice that will be personally served on your parent, informing them of the petition, the hearing date, and their right to legal representation. This is a mandatory constitutional protection — the subject must receive actual notice.

Notice of Initial Hearing for Other Parties. A separate notice served on all other interested parties: the subject's spouse, adult children, parents, and anyone else who might have standing to participate. DC-resident parties are served personally; out-of-District parties can be served by first-class mail.

Personal Identification Information (Form 26). Contains personal identifying information for the subject. Follow the court's current instructions for filing and handling this form.

Financial Account Information (Form 27). Lists all known financial accounts, real property, and assets belonging to the proposed ward. The court uses this to determine bond requirements and assess the scope of any conservatorship.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

The Probate Division is strict about document preparation:

• All forms must be typed, not handwritten. The Legal Branch will reject handwritten submissions.
• All forms require original signatures — no photocopied or electronic signatures.
• Documents must be filed in English.
• If you're requesting only guardianship (no conservatorship), there is no filing fee. If conservatorship is included, the fee is $45.

You can file in person during the Register of Wills' business hours or by mail. Confirm current processing times and submission requirements with the court.

Where to Get the Forms

The Probate Division posts forms on the DC Courts website at dccourts.gov. Look for the "Intervention Proceedings" section, which groups the guardianship and conservatorship filing packet.

You can also pick up physical copies at the Register of Wills office at the courthouse. The staff can tell you which forms you need, but they cannot give you legal advice on how to fill them out — that line is enforced strictly.

For self-represented filers, the DC Pro Bono Net's Guided Help tool (available through LawHelp.org/DC) offers an interview-style questionnaire that generates completed forms based on your answers. It's free and designed specifically for people filing without a lawyer.

Post-Filing Forms and Ongoing Requirements

Once the court accepts your petition and sets a hearing, you'll need additional documents:

Affidavit of Personal Service. After serving the subject and all interested parties with the notices, you file this affidavit proving service was completed. It must be filed at least 5 days before the hearing date. Service failures can cause a pro se petitioner's hearing to be continued.

Proposed Guardianship Plan. If the court appoints you as guardian, you must file a comprehensive care plan within 90 days — covering housing, medical care, daily support, and services. The court evaluates your performance against this plan.

Financial Inventory (Form 27 Update). Conservators must file a detailed inventory of all assets within 90 days of appointment, along with a management plan. After that, annual accounts are due every year.

Background Check Documentation. Guardians file an MPD background check within 60 days and an FBI fingerprint check within 180 days. These aren't optional — negative findings trigger an enforcement hearing.

Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs

If a $45 filing fee applies and your parent receives SSI, TANF, POWER, or General Assistance, you can file this form to seek a fee waiver. Eligibility may be presumptive for people receiving means-tested benefits; confirm the court's current criteria.

If a full waiver is unavailable, ask the court whether any other cost relief is available based on financial hardship.

Getting Help With the Paperwork

The forms themselves are publicly available, but understanding how to complete them correctly — especially the petition narrative and the notice requirements — is where most self-represented filers struggle. The DC Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit annotates each required form with plain-language instructions, so you know exactly what to write, where to file it, and what timeline the court expects.

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