Maryland Guardianship Cost Breakdown

Guardianship costs more than most families expect, and the expenses don't stop after the court appointment. Understanding the full cost picture — from filing through ongoing annual obligations — helps you budget realistically and identify where fee waivers can help.

Filing Fees

The baseline Circuit Court filing fee for a guardianship petition is $165 if you're filing without an attorney (self-represented) or $185 with attorney representation. County fee schedules may add local surcharges, so confirm the current total with the clerk.

If cost is a barrier, you can request a fee waiver using Form CC-DC-089 (Request for Waiver of Costs). The court evaluates your financial situation and can waive all or part of the filing fee.

Service of process adds another cost. The sheriff's service fee is typically $40 per attempt for personal service on the alleged disabled person. Certified mail to interested parties costs less but still adds up when multiple family members need notification.

Attorney Fees

Most guardianship attorneys charge between $2,500 and $7,500 for an uncontested case — one where no family member objects and the clinical evidence is straightforward. Contested cases, where someone disputes the need for guardianship or disagrees about who should serve as guardian, can run $10,000 to $25,000 or more depending on the complexity and number of hearing days.

Two separate attorney costs exist in every guardianship case:

Your attorney (optional but recommended). You hire and pay this attorney to prepare and present your petition.

Court-appointed attorney for the alleged disabled person (mandatory). The court must appoint an independent attorney to represent the person's interests. If the person is indigent, the state pays. If they have assets, the fees are typically assessed against their estate — meaning you may indirectly pay for two attorneys when the ward's assets are limited.

Clinical Evaluation Costs

Two clinical certificates are required. The evaluations come from licensed physicians, psychologists, LCSW-Cs, or nurse practitioners. Costs vary widely:

• Physician evaluation: $300–$800 per exam
• Psychologist evaluation: $500–$1,500 for a capacity assessment
• Insurance may cover part of the clinical evaluation, but many providers bill these as legal/forensic assessments not covered by standard medical insurance

You need two evaluations, and at least one must happen within 21 days before filing. Budget $600–$2,000 total for clinical evidence.

Bond Premiums (Property Guardianship)

If you're appointed guardian of the property, the court requires a corporate surety bond to protect the ward's financial estate. The bond amount equals the total value of the ward's personal property plus one year of anticipated income.

Bond premiums typically run 1–3% of the bond amount annually, paid from the ward's estate. For a ward with $50,000 in assets and $12,000 annual SSI income, that's a bond of $62,000 with an annual premium of roughly $620–$1,860.

The court may waive the bond for good cause under MD Rule 10-702 when all assets are placed in a restricted bank account that requires a court order to access. This is worth pursuing for families where the ward's assets are modest — it eliminates an ongoing annual cost.

Annual Ongoing Costs

After appointment, expect recurring costs each year:

Post-appointment petitions (modifying authority, substituting guardian) carry a $31 filing fee each.

Total First-Year Estimates

For an uncontested case with modest assets:

• Filing fee: $165–$185
• Service of process: $40–$120
• Clinical evaluations: $600–$2,000
• Your attorney: $2,500–$7,500
• Court-appointed attorney (from ward's estate): $1,000–$3,000
• Bond premium: $0–$1,860
• Training and compliance: $0 (no cost for required training)

Total: roughly $4,300–$14,700 for the first year, depending on attorney costs, clinical evaluation fees, and whether bond is required.

Reducing Costs

Filing pro se (without an attorney) eliminates the largest single expense. Maryland courts allow self-represented petitioners, and the forms are standardized. The trade-off is navigating procedural requirements yourself — clinical certificate timing, service rules, and the least-restrictive-alternative documentation.

The Maryland Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a court-filing document tracker and cost planning worksheets that help self-represented petitioners stay organized without paying attorney rates.

See more Maryland guides →