New Jersey Guardianship Cost

The Baseline Filing Fee: $200

Every adult guardianship case filed in New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, Probate Part carries a flat $200 filing fee payable to the County Surrogate. This fee is uniform across all 21 counties — whether you file in Camden, Ocean, Mercer, Union, or Warren, the cost is the same.

If your household cannot afford the filing fee, you can submit a Certification of Indigency alongside your court packet. The court reviews your financial circumstances and may waive the fee entirely. This is a real option, not a formality — judges in New Jersey regularly grant fee waivers for families of individuals receiving SSI.

Medical Evaluation Costs: The Biggest Variable

The medical certifications are typically the most expensive part of the process, and the cost depends entirely on which filing track you use.

Title 3B (standard private filing) requires two separate evaluations — either from two physicians or one physician and one psychologist — each conducted within 30 days of your filing date. Depending on your child's existing providers and insurance coverage, expect to pay:

• With insurance: $50-$200 per evaluation (copays and specialist visit fees)
• Without insurance: $300-$1,500 per evaluation, depending on the complexity and the provider's specialty

Total for two evaluations: $100-$3,000

Title 30 (DDD exception) requires only one medical certification, conducted within six months of filing, paired with a supporting document like a recent IEP or a DDD program administrator's affidavit. This cuts the evaluation cost roughly in half and gives you much more scheduling flexibility.

Total for one evaluation: $50-$1,500

The DDD exception is available to any individual who is eligible for or currently receiving Division of Developmental Disabilities services. Since most young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities apply for DDD eligibility around age 18, this track applies to the majority of turning-18 guardianship cases.

Court-Appointed Attorney Fees

When you file, the court assigns an independent attorney to represent your child. Whether you pay for this attorney depends on your filing track and the scope of guardianship:

Title 30, person-only, no assets: The court typically provides a public advocate or pro bono attorney at no cost to the family. This is the standard for turning-18 cases where the young adult has no property and the parents are seeking guardianship of the person only.

Title 3B or estate guardianship: The petitioner or the ward's estate pays the court-appointed attorney's fees. These fees vary by county and complexity but typically range from $500-$2,000 for uncontested cases.

Surety Bond

If the court appoints you as guardian of the estate (the ward's property and finances), the judge will typically order a surety bond. The bond amount is set based on the total value of the estate, and the annual premium is paid from the ward's funds.

For guardianship of the person only, or when the ward has no assets beyond monthly SSI benefits managed by a Representative Payee, the surety bond is usually waived.

Short Certificates: $5 Each

After qualifying with the Surrogate, you'll need Short Certificates — official documents proving your guardianship authority. These cost $5 each from the County Surrogate's Office. Plan to purchase several, since you'll need to present them to doctors, schools, banks, the SSA, the DDD, and other agencies. Most families purchase 5-10 copies initially.

Total Cost Comparison

Compare these numbers to hiring a private guardianship attorney, which typically runs $3,000-$7,000 for an uncontested case in New Jersey. The pro se route, especially through the DDD exception, can reduce total costs to under $500 for families who use insurance for the medical evaluation and qualify for a fee waiver.

Ways to Reduce Your Costs

Use your child's existing providers. A psychiatrist, neuropsychologist, or developmental pediatrician who already treats your child can often complete the medical certification during a regular visit, covered by insurance.

File under Title 30 when eligible. One evaluation instead of two, a six-month window instead of 30 days, and typically no attorney fees for person-only cases.

Request a fee waiver. The Certification of Indigency is straightforward — if your household income qualifies, the $200 filing fee is waived.

File pro se. The New Jersey Judiciary publishes a complete self-help packet (Form 10558) with every form you need. The New Jersey Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide walks through each form with formatting instructions and a coordination timeline for medical evaluations, so you can complete the filing without hiring an attorney.

Ask about SCARC Guardianship Services. This regional nonprofit (serving Sussex, Morris, Passaic, and Warren counties) offers sliding-scale pro se assistance, typically $500-$1,500. Wait times can exceed a year, so start early.

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