Colorado Guardianship Cost: Filing Fees, Fee Waivers, and Total Expenses

The $229 Filing Fee

The court filing fee for a minor guardianship petition in Colorado is $229. If you are filing guardianship petitions for multiple siblings on the same day, one $229 fee covers all the petitions. Each child still needs a separate petition form (JDF 824), but you pay once.

This fee is paid when you submit your petition packet at the courthouse clerk's counter. Minor guardianship filings are paper filings — the Colorado Courts E-Filing system currently covers domestic-relations and eviction cases but directs guardianship filers to the clerk's office.

Fee Waiver: JDF 205

If you cannot afford the $229 fee, Colorado allows you to request a fee waiver. You file two forms with your petition packet:

• JDF 205 — Motion to Waive Fees
• JDF 206 — Order re Court Fees

Complete the financial sections of JDF 205. The court may ask you for proof of income, assets, or expenses before deciding whether to waive court fees.

A fee waiver covers fees owed to the state. It generally does not cover private process-server costs or newspaper publication fees if you need to give notice by publication. However, if the court delivers service documents through the sheriff's office, it may waive and pay the sheriff's fee from mandated costs.

You do not need to wait for the fee-waiver decision before filing. Submit JDF 205 and JDF 206 alongside your petition, and the court will process both simultaneously.

Background Check Costs

Most proposed guardians must attach background screening documents to JDF 805 (Acceptance of Office). The parent-residing-with-child exception and emergency-waiver rules described above apply:

CBI criminal history check — A name-based search through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. CBI lists a $6 online search fee and a $13 fee per name for a mailed public request.

Credit report — A current credit report demonstrating financial stability. You can typically obtain one free annual report from each major bureau through the federally mandated free report program.

Government photo ID copy — No direct cost, but you need a current, legible copy of your driver's license or state-issued ID.

Service of Process Costs

You must serve notice on parents and interested persons at least 14 days before the hearing. Costs vary by method:

• Mailing notice — Regular postage is sufficient under the court's instructions. If you add Certified Mail and a return receipt, USPS lists fees of $5.55 for Certified Mail plus $2.91 for an electronic receipt or $4.65 for a mailed receipt, in addition to postage.
• Sheriff service — County sheriff fees vary by county; may be waived if your JDF 205 fee waiver is approved
• Private process server — Typically $40 to $75 per serve, depending on location and circumstances
• Service by publication — If a parent cannot be found, newspaper publication fees for three consecutive weekly notices vary by newspaper

Attorney Costs (If You Choose to Hire One)

Filing for guardianship without a lawyer is common in Colorado, and the Judicial Branch provides free forms and instruction packets for self-represented filers. Self-Represented Litigant Coordinators (Sherlocks) at each judicial district's court resource center can explain procedures and help you identify the right forms — though they cannot give legal advice.

If you do hire a family law attorney, expect to spend significantly more than the court costs alone. Contested cases especially benefit from legal representation, but the guide and court system are designed to make uncontested cases manageable without one.

Keeping Costs Low

For an uncontested guardianship where a parent consents, your out-of-pocket costs can be limited to the filing fee (waivable), background checks, and certified-mail postage. The court forms are free. The instruction packet (JDF 823) is free. The Self-Help Center guidance is free.

The Colorado Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide helps you avoid the most common — and expensive — mistake: filing incorrectly, getting documents rejected, and having to refile or attend additional hearings.

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