Washington Guardianship Filing Fee: Costs, Waivers, and What to Budget

The first question most Washington families ask when guardianship becomes necessary: how much will this actually cost? The answer ranges from $0 for a fee-waived pro se filing to $10,000+ for a contested case with attorney representation. Here's every cost line item, what you can waive, and where the real expense hides.

The Filing Fee: $240

The standard Superior Court filing fee for a new adult guardianship or conservatorship case is $240 under RCW 36.18.020. This is a state-mandated flat fee that applies regardless of which county you file in.

You pay this when you submit your petition (Form GDN C 102) to the Superior Court clerk. Some counties accept credit cards; others require a cashier's check or money order. Check your county clerk's payment policy before showing up.

Fee Waivers: How to Pay $0

Washington provides two separate bases for waiving the filing fee entirely:

GR 34 Indigency Waiver: Under General Rule 34, you can request a complete waiver of all filing fees and surcharges by filing Form WPF GR 34.0100 (Motion and Declaration for Waiver) and Form WPF GR 34.0300 (Financial Statement). You qualify if:

• Your household income is at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines
• You receive means-tested public assistance (SSI, TANF, Medicaid)
• You're represented by a qualified legal aid provider that screened you for eligibility

Under the Washington Supreme Court's ruling in Jafar v. Webb, trial courts must grant a complete waiver when indigency is established — they don't have discretion to deny it.

Statutory Asset-Based Waiver: RCW 11.130.170 provides that the guardianship filing fee is waived entirely if the respondent's total assets are under $3,000. For many young adults with disabilities who receive SSI (which has strict resource limits), this threshold is automatically met.

Court Visitor Fees

After you file, the court appoints an independent Court Visitor to investigate the case. The Court Visitor's fee is set in the court's appointment order and paid from the respondent's estate — unless the court finds that payment would cause substantial hardship, in which case the county picks up the tab.

Rates vary by county. Thurston County pays registry visitors $75/hour with a cap of 15 hours per case without prior court approval (a maximum of $1,125). Other counties have different rates and caps. For a typical uncontested family guardianship, expect the Court Visitor to spend 5-10 hours on the case.

If your adult child has few assets and receives SSI, you have strong grounds to argue hardship. The court visitor fee is one of the largest hidden costs of guardianship, and families often don't know to request county payment until after they've been billed.

Professional Evaluation Fees

The court-ordered professional evaluation (RCW 11.130.290) requires a licensed physician, clinical psychologist, certified nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant to examine the respondent and produce a detailed report. This evaluation is separate from any existing medical records.

If the respondent has health insurance (including Medicaid), the evaluation may be covered as a clinical assessment. If not, out-of-pocket costs for a neuropsychological or cognitive evaluation typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on the provider and complexity.

Some counties maintain panels of evaluators who work at reduced rates for guardianship cases. Ask the courthouse facilitator or the court visitor about available options in your jurisdiction.

Attorney Fees (If You Hire One)

Many families handle uncontested guardianships pro se using the standardized court forms. But if you hire an attorney, expect:

• Uncontested standard guardianship: $3,000-$5,000 flat fee
• Moderately complex case (multiple interested parties, out-of-county venue): $5,000-$8,000
• Contested guardianship (another party objects to the petition): $8,000-$15,000+, billed hourly at $300-$500/hour

If the respondent objects and the court appoints an attorney for them (which is mandatory when the Court Visitor reports an objection), that attorney's fees also come from the respondent's estate or county funds.

The Full Cost Picture

Here's a realistic budget range for a typical family guardianship in Washington:

The $0 floor is realistic for families who qualify for the filing fee waiver, have county-paid court visitors, and use insurance-covered evaluations. The high end assumes no waivers and premium professional services.

The Free Alternatives

Before budgeting for guardianship, consider that several alternatives cost nothing at all:

• Supported Decision-Making agreement: Free to execute with a notary (typically $5-$25 for notarization) or two witnesses (free)
• Educational Representative: No cost — the school district handles the designation process after two professionals submit certifications
• Representative Payee: The SSA process is free

A Durable Power of Attorney costs only notarization fees if you prepare the document yourself, or $200-$500 if an attorney drafts it — still dramatically cheaper than guardianship.

These alternatives don't just save money — they preserve rights that guardianship removes. Families should exhaust these options before accepting the financial and legal weight of a court guardianship.

For a complete cost comparison across every option, including budget worksheets and fee waiver instructions, see the Washington Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide.

See more Washington guides →