Indiana Guardianship Cost

The $177 Filing Fee Is Just the Starting Point

The standard base court filing fee for a new guardianship (GU case type) is $177. County schedules can vary; Clark County has listed $161–$177 depending on the court system. Some families stop researching costs there. They shouldn't.

That $177 covers only the clerk's fee for opening the case. It doesn't include the physician's evaluation, attorney fees, service of process, bond premiums, or the ongoing reporting costs that come with being a guardian. The true cost of an Indiana guardianship ranges from $1,500 to $7,000+ depending on whether the case is contested and whether you hire an attorney.

Full Cost Breakdown

Under IC § 29-3-9-9, all expenses of the guardianship proceeding — including medical, professional, and attorney fees — are paid from the property of the protected person. When the person you're petitioning to protect has minimal assets, that creates a real financial problem.

Fee Waivers for Low-Income Families

If your family can't afford the $177 filing fee, Indiana allows you to file an Indigency Affidavit and a Verified Motion for Fee Waiver with your petition. The court reviews your financial situation and can waive the filing fee entirely.

The fee waiver doesn't cover everything — you'll still need to pay for the physician's evaluation and any attorney you hire. But it removes the initial financial barrier to filing. Ask the county clerk's office about the specific waiver forms your court uses; the process varies by county.

The Ongoing Cost Problem

Most families focus on the upfront costs and don't realize that guardianship comes with permanent reporting obligations:

• Within 90 days of appointment (30 days in Hamilton County), a non-temporary guardian must file a Verified Inventory of all assets under their control
• Every two years, you must file a detailed biennial accounting covering the ward's condition, placement, all financial transactions, and a statement on whether guardianship remains necessary
• If you have authority over the estate, the court may require a fiduciary bond with annual premium payments from the estate

The statewide Guardianship Registry can flag missed deadlines. Courts may use these flags to initiate reviews, and in some counties persistent noncompliance can lead to removal as guardian.

When Attorney Fees Are Worth It

Filing pro se (without an attorney) is technically possible, but Indiana's county-specific probate rules make it risky. Marion County alone requires specific local forms (Form 413.3 for the Physician's Report, Form 412.0 for guardian instructions) and electronic filing with proper confidential designations. Filing the wrong form or miscategorizing a document can delay your petition by weeks.

Attorney fees of $1,500–$3,000 buy you correct form selection, proper service of process, compliance with local court rules, and representation at the hearing. In contested cases — where family members disagree about the need for guardianship or who should serve — attorney fees escalate, sometimes dramatically.

The Cost Comparison That Changes the Conversation

Indiana's self-executed alternatives cost a fraction of guardianship and carry no ongoing reporting obligations:

For many families, spending $1,500+ on a guardianship proceeding makes no sense when a combination of alternatives — costing under $100 total — covers every decision-making domain. The Indiana Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide walks through each option so you can determine exactly which instruments your family needs and skip the ones you don't.

See more Indiana guides →