Petition Filing Fee

​The court charges a filing fee that starts at $250 for guardian advocate cases.

  • If you plan to pay the full amount at the time of filing, please contact your county clerk to determine the payment types that are accepted (cash, check, credit card, etc.).  Please make sure you have the correct payment type before you go to the county clerk to file your paperwork.
 
  • ​If you don't have the money to pay the filing fee, you may qualify for a payment plan or a waiver.
    • ​For a payment plan, communicate that you want a payment plan when you file your petition.  The clerk of court does not send bills or reminders, it is your responsibility to make your payments on time.
    • To apply for a fee waiver, click on the "Fill out Waiver form" button below.  This will guide you through filling out a form to request having the filing fee waived.  The completed form will be emailed to you.

To contact your county clerk go to the County Resources page.

Information Needed for Waiver Form

  • Information on jobs and net salary income for yourself and your spouse (if you are married)​
  • Information on any additional sources of regular income that you receive outside of your primary job (second jobs, unemployment, retirement benefits, social security, etc.)
  • Information about any large assets you have (vehicles, bank account values, real estate / property, etc.)
  • Information regarding any liabilities and debts that you have (real estate, properties, vehicles, credit cards, etc.)

Prefer to print and fill out the form by hand?

We recommend that you fill out our automated online form by clicking the "Fill out Waiver form" button above.    But we understand that sometimes you may want to print a blank form and fill it out yourself.  

**This form only needs to be filled out once for a guardian advocate petition.

Next: County Specific Forms and Processes