California Guardianship Forms: The GC-210 Petition and Every Form You Need

Which Forms You Actually Need

Filing for guardianship of a minor in California means assembling a specific set of Judicial Council forms and submitting them to the Probate Division of your county's Superior Court. Every form is free to download from the California Courts website — no one should charge you for the blank forms themselves.

Here is the core filing set for a guardianship of the person:

• GC-210(P) — Petition for Appointment of Guardian of the Person. This is the primary petition where you explain who the child is, your relationship, why the child needs a guardian, and who the parents are.
• GC-210(CA) — Child Information Attachment. One per child. Covers the child's background, living situation, and the people who need to receive notice of the hearing.
• GC-212 — Confidential Guardian Screening Form. Every proposed guardian fills this out. It collects your residential history, employment, criminal history, and relationship to the child. It goes to the court investigator, not the public file.
• FL-105/GC-120 — Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Required whenever custody of a child is at issue. It tells the court whether any other state or court has been involved with this child's custody.
• GC-248 — Duties of Guardian. Read, date, and sign it; all proposed guardians must sign and file it before the hearing.

If the child qualifies for a fee waiver (which is evaluated based on the child's income, not yours — see below), you also file FW-001-GC and receive FW-003-GC if granted.

How to Get the Forms

All Judicial Council forms are published at courts.ca.gov in fillable PDF format. Type the form number (like "GC-210") into the search box and download directly.

Your county may also require local supplemental forms. Los Angeles County, for example, has its own probate cover sheet. San Diego County requires local screening forms. Sacramento County uses a local probate department cover sheet (PR/E-114). Before filing, visit your county Superior Court's self-help page or call the probate clerk to ask about local additions.

Filling Out GC-210(P): The Petition

The petition asks for straightforward information, but certain fields trip people up:

Item 3 (Relationship): State your exact relationship — "maternal grandmother," "paternal uncle," "adult sister." If you are not a relative, say so; non-relatives can petition, but the court gives preference to relatives under Probate Code Section 1510.

The "reasons" paragraph: Explain why the child needs a guardian. Stick to facts: "The child's mother has been incarcerated since March 2026 and the father's whereabouts are unknown." The court does not need emotional language — it needs a factual basis.

Parents' addresses: If you know them, list them. If a parent cannot be found, you will need to conduct a due diligence search and file a declaration documenting your efforts. The court can then waive notice for that parent.

GC-212: The Confidential Screening Form

This form is sealed — it does not become part of the public record. It asks about criminal history, child abuse allegations, substance use, and household members. Answer honestly. A past conviction does not automatically disqualify you, but concealing one will damage your credibility with the court investigator.

The court will arrange background checks for you and all adults living in the child's home. Check your county court's instructions to see whether it requires Live Scan fingerprinting.

Temporary and Emergency Guardianship Forms

If the child's situation is urgent — a parent was just arrested, hospitalized, or has disappeared — you can file for a temporary guardianship alongside the general petition:

• GC-110(P) — Petition for Appointment of Temporary Guardian
• GC-140 — Order Appointing Temporary Guardian (for the judge to sign)
• GC-150 — Letters of Temporary Guardianship (issued by the clerk)

The temporary petition must be filed with a guardianship petition or in an existing guardianship case; you can file it after the general petition if the need arises later. The court sets an expedited hearing for the temporary request, but the date and any shortened notice depend on the county and the facts. Unless the court orders a different time, the filed papers must be hand-delivered to the parents, the child if 12 or older, and others entitled to notice at least five court days before the temporary hearing.

Fee Waiver: FW-001-GC

The filing fee for a guardianship of the person is $225 in most counties; a few counties charge $35 to $50 more. A separate petition for temporary guardianship costs $60. Court investigator fees can add $400 to $800+ depending on the county. That is a significant barrier for relatives on fixed incomes.

The fee waiver for guardianship (FW-001-GC) is evaluated based on the child's financial means, not the caregiver's income. If the child receives Medi-Cal, CalFresh, SSI, or lives in a household below state poverty guidelines, the child likely qualifies. A granted waiver covers the filing fee, investigator fee, sheriff service fees, and certified copy charges.

What Comes After Filing

Once the clerk accepts your petition, the court schedules a hearing date, assigns a court investigator, and you begin serving notice on parents and other relatives. The investigation may take a few weeks or longer; ask your county court or self-help center about local timing. The forms are the first step — our California guardianship court process guide walks through every stage from filing through hearing, including a form assembly log and filing checklist.

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