Wyoming Guardianship Filing Fee: Full Cost Breakdown

The Filing Fee: $160

The initial filing fee for an adult guardianship or conservatorship petition in any Wyoming District Court is $160. Under W.S. §§ 5-3-206 and 2-2-401, that breaks down to $110 for the county fee, $40 for the Supreme Court automation fee, and $10 for the indigent civil legal services fee.

A few counties add small surcharges. Uinta County includes a voluntary $10 law library fee, bringing the practical cost to $170 for unrepresented filers. Always call the Clerk of District Court in your county to confirm current fees before filing.

If you can't afford the filing fee, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency requesting a waiver. This must be submitted before you file the petition.

Sheriff Service Fees: $50 Per Person

After filing, the county Sheriff must personally serve notice on the proposed ward, their custodian, parents, spouse, adult children, and any known agents under a power of attorney. The standard civil service fee under W.S. § 18-3-608 is $50.

Counties vary on how they apply this fee. Natrona and Uinta Counties charge $50 per individual served, even when multiple defendants live at the same address. Budget for serving at least two to three people — the proposed ward and one or two family members — so $100 to $150 total.

Sweetwater County restricts payment methods to business checks, money orders, or exact cash. No personal credit cards or personal checks accepted.

Attorney Fees: $2,500 to $7,000+

Private guardianship attorneys in Wyoming charge $280 to $309 per hour on average. For an uncontested adult guardianship, total attorney fees typically run $2,500 to $7,000 depending on complexity and whether a conservatorship is also involved.

If a guardianship is contested — meaning the proposed ward or another family member opposes it — costs escalate significantly. Expert witness fees, additional hearings, and extended GAL investigations push contested cases well above $10,000.

Lower-Cost Legal Options

The Wyoming State Bar's Modest Means Program connects income-eligible families with attorneys who charge a maximum retainer of $1,000 and an hourly rate capped at $100. That's roughly a third of standard rates. Apply through the Wyoming State Bar website.

Equal Justice Wyoming and local legal aid programs provide free or low-cost assistance for income-eligible families, though they rarely have the capacity for full courtroom representation in complex cases. They can help draft powers of attorney, advance directives, and fee waiver applications.

The Real Cost Comparison

Before committing to the court process, consider what you're buying. The $160 filing fee is just the front door — factor in service fees, the medical evaluation ($250 to $500), potential attorney costs, and the ongoing obligation to file status reports with the court every six months for the life of the guardianship.

A combination of a Durable Power of Attorney and an Advance Health Care Directive costs $0 for self-prepared documents and maybe $25 for notarization. These tools cover financial and medical decisions without court involvement, without ongoing reporting, and without stripping any civil rights.

The Wyoming Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a side-by-side cost comparison and decision worksheets to help you determine whether the court process is actually necessary for your family's situation.

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