Kentucky Guardianship Cost and Filing Fees by County

The Baseline: Court Filing Fees

The base filing fee for an application to appoint a guardian or conservator in Kentucky is $50 per application effective July 1, 2026. Required add-on fees and local charges may apply, so confirm the total with the District Court Clerk in the county of filing.

Kentucky Supreme Court Administrative Order 2026-15 sets the current fee rules effective July 1, 2026. Families should confirm the total directly with the District Court Clerk in their county.

Interdisciplinary Evaluation Costs

After the petition is filed, the court orders a mandatory evaluation by an Interdisciplinary Evaluation Team (IDT) — a physician (or APRN/PA), a licensed psychologist, and a social worker or Cabinet for Health and Family Services employee with relevant expertise. Each member must submit a written report to the court at least 10 days before the hearing; ask the court or county attorney how evaluation costs will be handled.

Evaluation costs can vary by case and local practice; confirm the current amount and payment responsibility with the court or county attorney.

Attorney Fees

Kentucky law requires the court to appoint an attorney to represent the respondent (the young adult) in every guardianship proceeding. Ask the court or county attorney how appointed-counsel fees will be handled; do not assume they are included in the filing fee.

If the petitioner hires their own attorney to prepare and file the petition and represent them through the hearing, private attorney fees for Kentucky guardianship cases generally range from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on the complexity and whether the case is contested. An uncontested case with straightforward facts costs less than a case where the respondent or another family member opposes the petition.

Fiduciary Bond

Once appointed, a guardian or conservator must provide any required fiduciary bond with the court under KRS 387.070 and KRS 387.720. A limited guardian is exempt under KRS 387.070, and other statutory exceptions may apply. The bond protects the ward's estate against mismanagement. Bond premiums depend on the size of the estate being managed — for a ward with minimal assets, the premium may be relatively modest. For larger estates, premiums scale proportionally.

Ongoing Costs

Guardianship is not a one-time expense. Ongoing obligations include:

• Filing the Guardian's Annual Report (AOC-790) — no filing fee, but time and attention required
• Filing the conservator's 60-day inventory (AOC-855) and biennial financial accountings (AOC-856)
• Maintaining any required fiduciary bond
• Court appearance costs if any modification, review, or compliance hearing is ordered

Over a lifetime, the cumulative cost of guardianship — including court oversight, bond premiums, and periodic legal consultations — can exceed the cost of less restrictive alternatives like a durable power of attorney, which generally avoids court filing fees and ongoing court reporting obligations, although drafting and notarization costs may apply.

Fee Waivers for Families in Financial Hardship

Under KRS 453.190, families can file a Motion for Waiver of Costs and Fees and to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (AOC-105). The motion requires a sworn affidavit disclosing the respondent's monthly income, assets, and essential expenses.

If the court finds that the respondent's household income is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or that paying the fees would deprive the individual of basic necessities, the judge may waive filing fees, service costs, and IDT evaluation fees.

SSI alone does not guarantee a waiver; the court applies the household and basic-needs test. The 2026 federal benefit rate is $994/month for an individual.

Comparing the Cost of Alternatives

Before committing to the guardianship process, it is worth running the numbers on less restrictive options. A durable power of attorney and healthcare surrogate designation — which together cover financial and medical decision-making — can often avoid court filing fees and ongoing court reporting, but attorney and notary costs should be confirmed. Representative payee status through the Social Security Administration is a separate federal designation and does not require a Kentucky court filing.

The Kentucky Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a cost comparison worksheet that maps out the financial impact of each option across the full less-restrictive-first decision sequence.

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