Maryland Guardianship Cost

The Filing Fee

The Circuit Court charges $165 to file a guardianship petition without an attorney, or $185 if an attorney files on your behalf. If the family cannot afford the fee, Form CC-DC-089 requests a fee waiver based on income.

That filing fee is the smallest line item in a guardianship case.

Medical Evaluation Costs

Maryland requires two clinical certificates proving the parent lacks capacity. Beginning October 1, 2026, the revised consolidated Form CC-GN-019 is used for the clinical capacity assessments. The cost of each evaluation varies:

• Clinical evaluation: $300-$1,000 per evaluation, depending on the provider and complexity
• Physician assistant or nurse practitioner: Authorized under the 2026 Physician Assistant Parity Act; the cost varies by provider and complexity

At least one evaluation must occur within 21 days before filing, so timing these appointments adds scheduling pressure on top of the expense.

Attorney Fees

Guardianship involves two sets of attorney fees:

Your attorney: Elder law attorneys in Maryland average $397 per hour. Standard flat-fee packages range from $499 to over $3,500. Contested cases — where a sibling objects, the parent disputes incapacity, or multiple parties petition for guardian status — can exceed $10,000 in litigation costs.

The parent's court-appointed attorney: The court appoints an independent attorney to represent the alleged disabled person's stated wishes — not their "best interests." If the parent has assets, the appointed attorney petitions the court to have reasonable fees paid from the parent's estate. If the parent is indigent, the state covers the cost. Either way, this is an expense that comes out of someone's pocket.

The Surety Bond

Guardians of the property must purchase a fiduciary surety bond before the court issues Letters of Guardianship. The bond protects the parent's assets against mismanagement or theft by the guardian.

The court sets the bond amount, typically equal to the total value of the ward's personal property plus one year of income. For a parent with $150,000 in savings and $30,000 in annual pension and Social Security income, the bond amount would be approximately $180,000.

Annual bond premiums vary by the bond amount and provider. For smaller estates, the judge may allow a reduced bond if the guardian places funds into a court-restricted bank account using Form CC-GN-024, where no withdrawals are possible without a signed court order.

Annual Reporting Costs

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

• Form CC-GN-012 (Fiduciary Account): A detailed financial report with attached bank statements, receipts, and canceled checks for every transaction. Filing fees range from $20 to $40 based on estate size, plus $10-$30 for the Trust Clerk Review Fee in some counties.
• Form CC-GN-013 (Annual Report of the Person): Documents the parent's health, housing, and welfare.

Some guardians hire accountants to prepare the fiduciary account, adding a separate professional cost. Errors or late filings can trigger a judicial citation — and potentially removal as guardian.

The Total Picture

Total costs vary with attorney involvement, evaluation fees, bond amount, and estate complexity. Contested proceedings can exceed $10,000.

For families whose parent still has mental capacity, executing a power of attorney avoids this entire cost structure. The Maryland Power of Attorney and Guardianship Kit covers both paths so your family can take the most cost-effective route available.

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