Nevada Guardianship Forms: Where to Find Them and How to File

Where to Get Nevada Adult Guardianship Forms

If you're trying to file for adult guardianship in Nevada, the forms themselves are free — the challenge is knowing which ones you need and how they fit together.

Nevada's adult guardianship petition requires a packet of distinct pleadings, not a single form. The specific documents depend on whether you're filing in Clark County (Eighth Judicial District Court) or Washoe County (Second Judicial District Court), though the core requirements under NRS Chapter 159 are the same statewide.

Clark County families can download the complete adult guardianship packet from the Family Law Self-Help Center at familylawselfhelpcenter.org. The Eighth Judicial District Court also maintains forms through its guardianship department at clarkcountycourts.us.

Washoe County families can access forms through the Second Judicial District Court's law library at washoecourts.com, or through Washoe Legal Services.

All other counties use the statewide forms available through the Nevada Self-Help Center at selfhelp.nvcourts.gov.

What's in the Guardianship Petition Packet

The adult guardianship petition is not one document — it's a coordinated filing of several separate pleadings:

• Family Court Cover Sheet — A standard administrative civil cover sheet that opens the case.
• Confidential Information Sheet — Contains sensitive identifiers like Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. This document is sealed from public view.
• Petition for Appointment of Guardian — The core pleading. It must identify your relationship to the proposed protected person, list the specific powers you're requesting, summarize the facts demonstrating why guardianship is necessary, and — critically since SB 346 took effect October 1, 2025 — include a sworn attestation that you provided the proposed protected person with information about less restrictive alternatives (supported decision-making agreements, durable powers of attorney) and an explanation of why those alternatives are insufficient.
• Physician's Certificate of Incapacity — A mandatory medical assessment signed by a Nevada-licensed physician. The certificate must detail the individual's specific cognitive and functional limitations, confirm whether they can attend the hearing, and analyze whether they could live independently with appropriate support. This must be filed confidentially along with a Confidential Medical/Educational Documents form.

Clark County vs. Washoe County Filing Differences

While both counties follow NRS Chapter 159, there are practical differences worth noting:

Filing fees: Adult guardianship of the person carries a $0 court filing fee in both Clark and Washoe Counties. For guardianship of the estate, there's no fee if assets are $2,500 or less, and a $5 filing fee if assets exceed that threshold. Larger estates handled through the probate division may face tiered fees starting at $286.

Clark County uses electronic filing (e-filing) through its portal, which adds a small $3.50 upload fee per document. Clark County also offers in-person self-help classes through the Family Law Self-Help Center — free, but they run on a fixed schedule.

Washoe County provides guardianship information sessions and has its own self-help resources through the law library. The court's FAQs at washoecourts.com cover procedural specifics like service requirements and hearing scheduling.

If you cannot afford court-related costs, both counties allow you to file a Fee Waiver (In Forma Pauperis) application.

Common Filing Mistakes That Cause Delays

The most frequent reason guardianship hearings get rescheduled is improper service of process. Nevada law requires:

• The proposed protected person must be personally served with the Citation and Petition at least 10 days before the hearing.
• Second-degree relatives (parents, grandparents, adult siblings including half-siblings) must be served by certified mail with return receipt at least 20 days before the hearing, or by personal service at least 10 days before.
• Missing relatives: If you genuinely cannot locate a relative, you need an Affidavit of Due Diligence documenting at least two specific search actions (such as checking DMV records), plus an Affidavit for Service by Publication. Publication must run weekly for three consecutive weeks, with the final ad at least 10 days before the hearing.

The other common delay is an incomplete or expired Physician's Certificate. The medical evaluation must be completed within 90 days of filing.

Before You File: Have You Explored Alternatives?

Since October 2025, Nevada law explicitly requires petitioners to attest that they've considered less restrictive alternatives before pursuing guardianship. This isn't a formality — judges take it seriously.

Before downloading the guardianship forms, evaluate whether your family's needs could be met through a supported decision-making agreement, a durable power of attorney, or an educational representative designation. These options preserve your child's civil rights and cost nothing to establish.

If you've worked through those options and determined that guardianship is the appropriate path, our Nevada Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide walks you through the entire process — from the capacity evaluation and document preparation through filing, the hearing, and the ongoing annual reporting requirements.

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