Nebraska Guardianship Cost — Every Fee From Filing to Annual Reports
Nebraska guardianship costs catch families off guard because the statutory filing fee is misleadingly low. The statutes say $22. The first-year cost combines the $144–$200 practical docket cost, $85 fingerprint fees, DHHS/credit-report/notary costs, sheriff service, the $20 education course, attorney fees if hired, and any required bond.
Court Filing Fees
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-126.02 sets the base filing fee at $22 for a guardianship petition and $22 for a conservatorship petition. A combined petition costs $44. But that statutory number does not include the Supreme Court administrative surcharges — Judges Retirement Fee, Legal Services Fee, Court Automation Fee, NSC Education Fee, Dispute Resolution Fee, and Indigent Defense Fee — which stack the actual docket cost to approximately $144 to $200 depending on your county.
Every annual report filed after appointment carries a $5 recording fee. If the conservatorship involves real estate transactions that must be recorded with the Register of Deeds, add $10 for the first page and $6 per additional page.
Background Check Costs
Under LB 453 (enacted May 2025) and County Court Rule § 6-1449, every proposed permanent guardian or conservator must complete four background checks before the hearing:
| Check | Cost |
|---|---|
| Nebraska State Patrol fingerprint-based criminal history (state RAP sheet) | $30 |
| National FBI fingerprint check | $55 |
| DHHS Child & Adult Abuse/Neglect Central Registry | $5 (effective Sept 1, 2026) + $2.50 online fees = $7.50 |
| Sex Offender Registry search + notarized affidavit | Free (search) + notary fee |
| Credit report from established agency | Separate reporting-agency fee; a free annual report may be available at annualcreditreport.com |
Known fingerprint cost: $85 for the two fingerprint checks. Add the DHHS, credit-report, registry, and notary costs separately. If you are filing as co-guardians, both individuals must complete the full background check package separately.
Sheriff Service Fees
The county sheriff serves notice of the hearing on the proposed ward at least 14 days before the hearing date. Sheriff service fees in Nebraska range from $20 to $50 per person served, depending on the county. If multiple interested parties require service, this cost multiplies.
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Mandatory Education
Every newly appointed guardian or conservator must complete the OPG's "Becoming a Guardian and/or Conservator" online course within 90 days of appointment. The fee is $20 per person — co-guardians register and pay separately.
Surety Bond (If Required)
Under County Court Rule § 6-1441, a conservator must post a corporate surety bond when the ward's net estate value exceeds $10,000. Bond premiums run roughly $150 per year for the first $20,000 of estate value and scale up from there. This is an annual recurring cost for the life of the conservatorship.
If the ward's only income is SSI and they have no other assets, a guardianship without conservatorship typically avoids the bond requirement entirely.
Attorney Fees
Here is where costs vary most dramatically:
- Pro se filing (no attorney): $0 in legal fees, but the Nebraska Judicial Branch does not publish establishment forms or step-by-step filing instructions for guardianship petitions, making self-filing difficult.
- Standard guardianship through a private attorney: $1,000 to $2,000 for a straightforward, uncontested case.
- Comprehensive special needs estate plan (guardianship + special needs trust + powers of attorney): $2,500 to $4,500 from specialized firms.
- Contested guardianship (a party objects): costs escalate quickly with expert medical testimony and multiple hearing dates.
Once appointed, attorney fees paid from the ward's estate are capped at $1,000 per year under County Court Rule § 6-1437(C) without a separate court petition. Any fees above that threshold require explicit court approval.
Total First-Year Cost Estimate
| Scenario | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Pro se, guardianship only, no bond | $144–$200 docket + $85 fingerprint fees + $20 education + DHHS, service, credit-report, and notary costs |
| Attorney-assisted, guardianship only, no bond | Same costs, plus $1,000–$2,000 attorney fees |
| Attorney-assisted, guardianship + conservatorship + bond | Same costs, plus $1,000–$2,000 attorney fees and bond premium (about $150 for the first $20,000 of estate value) |
The Alternative Comparison
A durable power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney, by contrast, cost nothing if you use the standardized forms from the Nebraska Judicial Branch (Form DC 6:12 for financial, Form DC 6:13 for healthcare); if drafted by counsel, add the attorney's fee. There are no annual reporting fees, no education class, no surety bond, and no ongoing court oversight.
The Nebraska guardianship decision framework helps families assess whether the ongoing costs of court-ordered guardianship are necessary or whether voluntary alternatives accomplish the same practical goals.
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