How Much Does Guardianship Cost in Missouri

The Total Cost Depends on Your County and Case Complexity

Published Missouri research reports typical setup costs of $2,000–$5,000 for limited guardianship and $3,000–$10,000+ for full conservatorship. Contested cases can cost more. The variation comes from three factors: county-specific court deposits, whether your case is contested, and whether you need a conservator in addition to a guardian.

Here's what you'll actually pay, broken down by category.

Court Filing Deposits by County

Missouri's judicial circuits each set their own advance cost deposits. These deposits cover filing fees, court-appointed attorney fees, and initial administrative costs:

Some counties list a $115.50 base filing fee, but county-specific advance deposits vary and may cover anticipated costs beyond the filing fee. St. Louis County's approximately $700 deposit covers anticipated court costs, filing fees, and court-appointed counsel.

Attorney Fees

Published Missouri research reports typical setup costs of $2,000–$5,000 for limited guardianship, including filing deposits, process servers, and petitioner's attorney fees. Full conservatorship cases are reported at $3,000–$10,000+ when asset protection is complex. Contested cases can cost more.

These fees cover petition drafting, court appearances, coordination with the physician evaluation, and filing of the initial Letters. They do not cover ongoing annual reporting assistance.

Court-Appointed Attorney (Guardian ad Litem)

The court must appoint a private attorney to represent the respondent. The attorney's fees are taxed as costs of the proceeding, and the amount and payment source depend on the county and case. For example, St. Louis County's approximately $700 advance deposit covers anticipated court costs, filing fees, and court-appointed counsel, while St. Louis City's approximately $200 deposit includes the attorney's initial deposit.

Physician Evaluation

The mandatory medical evaluation (Physician's Affidavit or clinical interrogatories) has a provider-specific cost. Obtain the county's accepted form and ask the evaluating professional for a fee quote before scheduling.

Surety Bonds (Conservators Only)

If you're appointed conservator of the estate (managing finances), Missouri law requires a corporate surety bond. The annual premium runs approximately $100 per $10,000 of estate assets. For a young adult whose only asset is an SSI back-payment of $5,000, that's roughly $50/year. For a personal injury settlement of $200,000 held in a conservatorship, it's $2,000/year.

If the adult's sole income is SSI, you likely don't need a conservatorship at all — a Social Security representative payee designation handles benefit management without court involvement or bond requirements.

Ongoing Annual Costs

Guardianship is not a one-time expense. After appointment:

• Guardian's Annual Status Report: Some documented county schedules list a $30 annual fee; confirm the local schedule. Many families prepare these themselves.
• Conservator's Annual Settlement: Filing fee plus any professional preparation costs. The settlement requires a complete accounting of all income, expenditures, and investments with supporting bank statements.
• Surety bond renewal: Annual premium as described above.
• Attorney fees for modifications: If you need to expand or restrict the guardian's powers, each modification petition requires new filings and potentially a new hearing.

The Less-Expensive Alternatives

For comparison, the private alternatives to guardianship cost:

• Supported Decision-Making Agreement: $0–$500 (free consortium forms available from mosdm.org, optional attorney review)
• Durable Power of Attorney + Healthcare POA: $300–$1,500 (attorney-drafted; execution formalities vary by document)
• Representative Payee designation: $0 (administrative application through SSA)
• HIPAA release + FERPA consent: $0 (standard forms, no attorney needed)

These alternatives preserve your adult child's civil rights entirely and carry no ongoing court supervision costs. They're appropriate when your child has the capacity to understand and sign delegation documents.

For a complete comparison of costs, timelines, and what each option actually covers in Missouri's specific legal landscape, the Missouri Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes county-specific cost tables and a decision worksheet to match your family's situation to the right mechanism.

See more Missouri guides →