Vermont Guardianship Fee Waiver: How to File Without Paying Court Fees

Filing an adult guardianship petition in Vermont costs $150.00 in court fees, plus a $14.00 electronic filing transaction fee if you submit through eFileVT. For families already managing the financial pressures of disability care — particularly those on SSI budgets — that upfront cost can be a genuine barrier. Vermont's fee waiver process exists specifically for this situation.

The Fee Waiver Application

You request a waiver by filing Form 600-00228 (Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs) with the Probate Division of the Superior Court where you are filing your guardianship petition. This is the same form used for fee waivers across Vermont court proceedings, not a guardianship-specific document.

Form 600-00228 asks for basic financial information: your household income, monthly expenses, number of dependents, and whether you receive any means-tested public benefits. The goal is to demonstrate that paying the filing fee would create a financial hardship.

Who Qualifies

Vermont's court guidance identifies several routes to a waiver, including receiving public assistance, gross income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, or a finding that you cannot pay without using resources needed to support you and your dependents:

• Receipt of means-tested benefits — If you or the person needing a guardian receives SSI, Medicaid, SNAP (3SquaresVT), Reach Up (TANF), or Section 8 housing assistance, that is strong evidence of financial hardship
• Gross income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines — This is one of Vermont's published criteria for a waiver
• Disproportionate medical or care expenses — Families with high out-of-pocket costs for disability-related care, therapies, or specialized equipment can document those expenses to strengthen their application

If your household income is above these thresholds but the filing fee would still create genuine hardship — for instance, if you have multiple children with disabilities or significant medical debt — explain that in the application. Judges have discretion to grant waivers based on the full financial picture.

What the Waiver Covers

A granted fee waiver covers the $150.00 filing fee for the guardianship petition. It also covers the cost of service of process (having the sheriff or process server deliver notice to interested parties) and any court-ordered publication fees if service by publication is required.

The $14.00 eFileVT transaction fee is a platform fee charged by the electronic filing provider, not a court fee. Vermont lists a fee-waiver determination as an economic-hardship exemption for the efiling user fee; follow eFileVT's instructions for a waiver account. If you want to avoid the electronic filing fee, you can file your petition in paper form at the courthouse clerk's office.

How to File

Submit Form 600-00228 at the same time as your guardianship petition. Attach it to the front of your filing packet. If filing electronically through eFileVT, upload it as a companion document to your Petition to Appoint Guardian.

The clerk reviews the fee-waiver application and notifies you of the decision. If it is denied, you must pay the filing and service fees within 30 days or your case may be dismissed; you may appeal the denial in writing within 7 days of the order.

Other Costs to Plan For

The filing fee is only one component of the guardianship process. Even with a waiver, you should budget for:

• Clinical evaluation — The court orders a mental health evaluation of the person alleged to need a guardian. If the person has assets, those assets pay for the evaluation. If the person has limited assets, the court sends the order to the Department of Health to arrange payment by the State of Vermont
• Attorney fees — If the respondent cannot afford representation, the court appoints an advocate attorney at public expense. However, if you (the petitioner) want your own attorney, that cost is yours
• Bond — If you receive financial authority over the ward's assets, the court may require you to post a guardian's bond. The cost depends on the value of the assets under management

The Vermont Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a complete cost breakdown for the guardianship process, from filing through annual reporting, so you can plan the full expense before committing to the court path — and evaluate whether less costly alternatives like supported decision-making or powers of attorney might meet your family's needs instead.

Timing

File your fee waiver application early. If the court needs additional financial documentation, that can add time. Since guardianship petitions in Vermont can be filed up to four months before the young adult's 18th birthday, starting early gives you room to handle the waiver process without compressing the rest of the court timeline.

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