Greene County Missouri Guardianship of a Minor: 31st Circuit Filing Guide

Greene County covers the Springfield area — Missouri's third-largest metro — and handles a significant number of minor guardianship filings through the probate division of the 31st Judicial Circuit. If you are a grandparent or relative in the Springfield region seeking legal authority over a child, here is what the local process looks like.

Filing Location and Venue

Minor guardianship petitions in Greene County are filed at the 31st Judicial Circuit courthouse in Springfield. Venue is proper if the child is domiciled in Greene County under RSMo § 475.035. If the child has no Missouri domicile, the county with a significant connection to the child may also work.

Deposit Schedule and Fees

Greene County uses an advance deposit system. For a minor guardianship, expect:

• Filing deposit: $150.00 advance deposit for a minor guardianship and/or conservatorship
• Service by publication: Additional $130.00 if required, for a total of $280.00
• Sheriff service fees: Additional cost per party served
• Certified copy fees: Charged separately when you need copies of Letters of Guardianship

If publication is necessary because a parent cannot be located, the published probate fee schedule lists a $130.00 service-by-publication fee. Notice by publication runs for four consecutive weeks under RSMo § 506.160.

Under RSMo § 514.040, a court may allow a qualifying petitioner to proceed without the fees and charges it determines the person cannot pay. The order controls whether publication fees or private Guardian ad Litem costs are waived.

Background Screening

Greene County Probate Court lists a guardianship-petition background-screening report and directs petitioners to the Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR). Specifically:

1. Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) — screens the DSS child abuse/neglect registry, the Missouri sex offender registry, and senior care registries for the petitioner and every adult in the household
2. MSHP criminal history check — fingerprint-based, covering Missouri state records and the FBI CJIS database

Results must be filed with the court clerk at least 10 days before the hearing. Start the process early — FCSR results can take several weeks depending on processing volume.

Pro Se Filing

Greene County accepts pro se guardianship petitions. You do not need an attorney to file, though the judge may appoint a Guardian ad Litem or require representation if the case becomes contested or involves complex legal questions.

This contrasts with St. Louis County (21st Circuit), where non-parent petitioners are required to have an attorney for the entire proceeding. In Greene County, a grandparent or relative can prepare and file the petition themselves if the case is uncontested.

That said, guardianship petitions must be verified (signed under oath), and service must be properly executed on all required parties. Mistakes in notice or service can void the resulting order, so even in a pro se filing it pays to follow the procedural requirements carefully.

The Petition

A minor guardianship petition in Greene County follows the statewide requirements under RSMo § 475.060:

• The child's name, date of birth, and domicile
• The names and addresses of the living parents
• The reason the parents cannot, will not, or are unfit to provide care
• Your qualifications as the proposed guardian under RSMo § 475.045
• If the child is over 14 and has no qualified parent living, any selection by the minor

Attach parental consent forms if a parent agrees. If a parent is unlocated, you will need to file an Affidavit of Diligent Search documenting your efforts before the court approves service by publication.

Free Legal Resources in the Springfield Area

Legal Services of Southern Missouri (LSSM) serves Greene County and the surrounding Ozark region. Their intake phone is (417) 881-1397. They handle civil family and guardianship cases for income-qualified residents.

The KIN-4-KID line (1-833-546-4543) connects relative caregivers to benefit navigation, legal aid referrals, and peer support statewide.

For a full walkthrough of every guardianship and custody pathway in Missouri — with forms, fees, and post-appointment obligations — the Missouri Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide covers the process from first filing to Letters of Guardianship and beyond.

See more Missouri guides →