States covered
10 states
guardianship
2026 data 10 states ~$257 avg
Guardianship - State Comparison
Legal process to establish court-supervised care for a minor or incapacitated adult.
Data updated September 2026
Average minimum fee
$257
Across all surveyed states
Free filings
0 states
All states charge a fee
Longest waiting period
60 days
Florida
How Guardianship Filing Costs Vary Nationally
PlainCivil tracks guardianship filing requirements across 10 states out of 10 covered in the national dataset. Across those states, the average minimum filing fee is $257 and the average maximum is $377 - a spread that reflects both county-level surcharges and how each state funds its court system. The lowest entry cost is in North Carolina, starting at $150. The highest ceiling is in Florida, where complex cases can reach $500.
Waiting periods and procedural timelines differ just as sharply. Florida imposes the longest statutory waiting period for guardianship at 60 days before a final order can issue. Actual time from filing to resolution usually exceeds the statutory minimum because of court calendars, response deadlines, service of process, and any contested issues. Venue rules, residency minimums, and grounds requirements add further state-specific complexity you should check before filing.
This page is a procedural reference, not legal advice. Guardianship outcomes depend heavily on case facts, local court rules, opposing parties, and the judge assigned. If your situation involves minor children, contested property, domestic violence, housing loss, criminal collateral consequences, or immigration status, contact a licensed attorney or your state legal-aid organization before filing. Every state listed here also offers fee-waiver programs for filers whose household income falls below roughly 125–200% of the federal poverty level.
State-by-State Comparison
10 states| State | Filing Fee | Details |
|---|---|---|
| California | $465 | California fee schedule → |
| Florida | $400–$500 | Florida fee schedule → |
| Georgia | $200–$300 | Georgia fee schedule → |
| Illinois | $250–$400 | Illinois fee schedule → |
| Michigan | $175–$300 | Michigan fee schedule → |
| New York | $300–$450 | New York fee schedule → |
| North Carolina | $150–$250 | North Carolina fee schedule → |
| Ohio | $175–$350 | Ohio fee schedule → |
| Pennsylvania | $200–$350 | Pennsylvania fee schedule → |
| Texas | $250–$400 | Texas fee schedule → |
Details by State
California
$465Probate Court filing fee $465. Investigator fees additional (~$600-$1,200).
Timeline: 3-6 months
Full California details →Florida
$400–$500Probate Court. Court-appointed examining committee fees add $500-$1,500.
Timeline: 3-6 months
Full Florida details →Georgia
$200–$300Probate Court. Physician evaluation required.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Georgia details →Illinois
$250–$400Probate Division of Circuit Court. Guardian ad litem fees vary.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Illinois details →Michigan
$175–$300Probate Court. Guardian ad litem fee $75-$150/hr typical.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Michigan details →New York
$300–$450Surrogate Court fees $300-$450. Attorney fees typical in contested cases.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full New York details →North Carolina
$150–$250Clerk of Superior Court. Physician report required for incompetency.
Timeline: 2-3 months
Full North Carolina details →Ohio
$175–$350Probate Court. Inventory fee based on estate value.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Ohio details →Pennsylvania
$200–$350Orphans Court Division. Physician report required.
Timeline: 2-4 months
Full Pennsylvania details →Texas
$250–$400Probate Court. Guardian ad litem fees additional if appointed.
Timeline: 3-6 months
Full Texas details →Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Source: Published state court fee schedules (compiled) PlainCivil state-process filing-fee database · 2026
Take this with you
Where guardianship fits into the rest of your filing decision.
- North Carolina starts as low as $150, while Florida's ceiling can reach $500 for the same process Compare all state fees
- Florida imposes the longest statutory wait at 60 days
- Check whether your state and household income qualify for a fee-waiver program before paying any filing fee Read methodology and coverage notes
This page is a procedural fee reference only, not legal advice. Guardianship outcomes and eligibility depend on your state's specific rules and your case facts.
Fee and timeline figures on PlainCivil are rendered from the portal's state-process database compiled from published court schedules, no fee is invented for a ranking. Process-type hub aggregates filing-fee and wait fields for Guardianship across surveyed states from the portal database. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-09-01. PlainCivil does not rate, rank-recommend, or advise on legal strategy, it reports what published schedules and court materials contain.
| Publisher | PlainCivil |
| Sources | Public state court datasets and federal civil-justice records |