CC-GN-001 Petition for Guardianship of Minor Maryland: Filing Guide

What Is Form CC-GN-001?

Form CC-GN-001 is Maryland's official Petition for Guardianship of Minor. It is the filing document that starts a guardianship case — guardianship of the person (daily care authority), guardianship of the property (financial asset management), or both. The current revision is dated October 2025, and it is available free from the Maryland Judiciary website at mdcourts.gov.

This form is used only for minors. A common and costly mistake is filing CC-GN-002 instead, which is the petition for guardianship of an alleged disabled person — an adult proceeding that will be rejected if filed for a child.

Walking Through the Form

Caption and court selection: identify whether you are filing in Circuit Court or Orphans' Court. In Harford, Howard, and Montgomery counties, Circuit Court judges sit as the Orphans' Court, so you file in Circuit Court regardless. In other counties, Orphans' Court can hear the case only if its presiding judge is a member of the Maryland Bar; otherwise, the case must go to Circuit Court.

Minor's information: the child's full name, date of birth, current address, and the names and addresses of both parents. If a parent is deceased, note that and provide a death certificate. If a parent's location is unknown, state that — you will need to file a separate affidavit (CC-GN-010) documenting your search efforts.

Type of guardianship requested: check whether you are seeking guardianship of the person, guardianship of the property, or both. Most grandparent cases involve guardianship of the person only, unless the child has inherited assets, received a settlement, or owns property that needs management.

Reason for the petition: describe why a guardian is needed. Be specific: "The child's mother has been in inpatient treatment for substance abuse since March 2026 and the father's whereabouts are unknown since 2024" is far more effective than "The parents cannot care for the child."

Proposed guardian's qualifications: your relationship to the child, how long the child has lived with you, and your ability to provide housing, education, and medical care.

Required Attachments

• Certified copy of the child's birth certificate — the court will not proceed without it
• CC-GN-023 (Consent to Serve as Guardian) — required only if you are asking the court to appoint someone other than yourself
• CC-GN-007 (Parent's Consent to Guardianship of Minor) — if a parent is willing to consent, filing this with the petition can make the hearing uncontested

Filing Fee and Fee Waiver

Circuit Court charges $165.00 for a guardianship petition. Orphans' Court fees follow local probate schedules and may be lower.

File Form CC-DC-089 (Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs) simultaneously with your petition if you need a fee waiver. The waiver covers filing fees and Sheriff service fees but not final court costs, home study fees, or court-appointed attorney fees that may come later. If the waiver is denied, you get 10 days to pay before the filing is considered withdrawn.

After Filing: Service and Notice

Every interested person must be formally served — both parents, any legal custodian, and the child if aged 10 or older. You cannot serve the papers yourself. Use certified mail (restricted delivery, return receipt requested), the county Sheriff, or a private process server.

For a parent who cannot be located, file Form CC-GN-010 (Affidavit of Attempts to Contact, Locate, and Identify Interested Persons) describing your search efforts — last known addresses, public record searches, certified mail attempts, contacts with family members. If the court is satisfied that you conducted a diligent search, it may authorize service by courthouse posting or newspaper publication.

What Happens Next

The court schedules a hearing. If parental consent is on file and no one contests, the hearing focuses on whether you are a suitable guardian and whether the arrangement serves the child's best interests. In contested cases, the proceedings are more involved — the court may appoint a Best Interest Attorney, order a home study, or assign a Guardian Ad Litem.

Once the judge signs the order, the clerk issues Letters of Guardianship — the document you present to schools, hospitals, and agencies as proof of your authority.

For a complete walkthrough of Form CC-GN-001, every attachment, the hearing process, and post-appointment obligations like annual reporting, the Maryland Guardianship and Custody Guide covers the entire guardianship process from petition to compliance.

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