California Conservatorship Cost

The Sticker Shock Is Real

A standard, uncontested limited conservatorship commonly involves $3,000 to $10,000 in attorney fees, plus court, investigator, evaluation, bond, and copying costs; illustrative total initial outlays range from about $3,765 to $17,705+. If the case becomes contested — a family member objects, the proposed conservatee opposes the petition through court-appointed counsel — costs easily exceed $20,000.

These are not one-time expenses. Conservatorships carry recurring costs for the conservatee's entire lifetime. Understanding the full financial picture upfront helps families make an informed decision about whether court-supervised authority is genuinely necessary or whether less restrictive alternatives (which cost a fraction of this) could serve the same purpose.

Line-by-Line Cost Breakdown

Court filing fee: $435. This is the statewide statutory fee for filing a Petition for Appointment of Probate Conservator (Form GC-310), set by the California Judicial Council and uniform across all 58 counties. Some counties charge slightly more for additional administrative costs.

Court investigator fee: $700–$1,500. The court investigator conducts a mandatory in-person interview with the proposed conservatee, evaluates their living conditions, and files an independent report. Fees vary by county — Calaveras County charges $600 for an initial report and $300 for periodic reviews, while metropolitan counties like Los Angeles and San Francisco regularly assess $1,000 to $1,500.

Capacity evaluation: $0–$1,500. If medical powers are requested, a physician or clinical psychologist must complete the Confidential Capacity Declaration (Form GC-335). If your child's primary care physician handles this, the cost may be covered by insurance. A standalone neuropsychological evaluation runs $800–$1,500.

Attorney fees: $3,000–$10,000. This covers case intake, form preparation, filing, court appearances, and coordinating with the court investigator and regional center. Uncontested petitions cluster around $5,500. Contested matters — where a family member objects or the proposed conservatee fights the petition — start at $10,000 and can go much higher.

Court-appointed PVP attorney: $500–$2,000+. The court appoints independent counsel for the proposed conservatee under Probate Code Section 1471. This fee is typically charged to the conservatee's estate. If the conservatee has no assets, the county absorbs it or it is covered by a fee waiver.

Certified copies of Letters of Conservatorship (GC-350): $30–$240. You will need multiple certified copies — for banks, medical providers, schools, and your own records. The total depends on the number of copies and the county's fee schedule.

Fidelity bond premium: $0–$4,000/year. If the conservator is appointed over the estate and the conservatee has liquid assets, the court requires a surety bond. Annual premiums run 0.5%–1.0% of the estate value. If the conservatee's only income is SSI and they have no significant assets, no bond is required.

The Recurring Costs

Biennial accounting: $1,500–$5,000 every two years. A conservator of the estate must file a detailed financial accounting with the probate court every two years, documenting every dollar received, spent, and held. Most families hire an attorney or fiduciary accountant to prepare these filings.

Court investigator periodic review: $300–$1,000. The court investigator conducts follow-up reviews — typically annually for the first year, then biennially — and charges the estate for each review.

Status reports. The conservator of the person must file periodic reports on the conservatee's well-being, living situation, and support services. Attorney assistance with these reports adds to ongoing costs.

The Fee Waiver

If your child receives SSI, Medi-Cal, IHSS, CalFresh, or other public benefits, you can apply for a fee waiver using Form FW-001-GC. The waiver covers filing fees, certified copies, and court investigator fees.

The key detail most families miss: eligibility is based on the proposed conservatee's income and assets, not the parents' or petitioner's. If your household income is $150,000 but your child's only income is SSI, the waiver analysis looks at the proposed conservatee's finances.

A granted waiver can save $1,500–$2,500 in upfront costs — the filing fee, investigator fee, and certified copies combined.

What Alternatives Cost

For families where less restrictive tools are viable, the comparison is dramatic:

• Supported Decision-Making Agreement: notary fees (~$15 per signature)
• Advance Health Care Directive: notary fees (~$15)
• Durable Power of Attorney: notary fees (~$15)
• HIPAA authorization: free
• Assignment of Educational Decision-Making Authority: free
• Representative payee application (SSA): free

Total cost depends on the number of SDM supporters and whether an attorney reviews the private planning instruments.

Even if you hire an attorney to review or draft these documents, flat-fee packages typically run $1,500–$3,000 — less than the filing fee and investigator charge alone for a conservatorship.

Making the Decision

Cost alone should not drive the choice. If your child cannot execute voluntary instruments because they lack the capacity to sign them, a conservatorship is necessary regardless of expense. But if your child can indicate preferences and identify trusted people, spending $5,000–$10,000 on a conservatorship that strips their legal rights — when the relevant private instruments may require only notary fees and free applications — deserves careful consideration.

The California Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes the capability assessment worksheets that help you determine which tools match your child's actual needs, plus a cost comparison framework that accounts for both upfront and lifetime expenses.

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