Missouri Guardianship Cost: Filing Fees and How to Get a Fee Waiver

The cost of filing for guardianship of a minor in Missouri depends on your county, whether the parents consent, and whether you qualify for a fee waiver. For a grandparent or relative on a fixed income, knowing the actual numbers — and the path to getting them waived — matters more than vague advice to "consult an attorney."

Filing Fees by County

Missouri does not have a single statewide filing fee for guardianship. Each judicial circuit sets its own schedule, and the range is significant:

• St. Louis County (21st Circuit): The posted minor-guardianship deposit is $100.50 when service is not required or $500.50 when service is required. Sheriff service is $36 per person.
• Jackson County (16th Circuit): The posted minor-guardianship filing fee is $100.50, not including service. Service and any Guardian ad Litem deposits ordered by the court add to the total.
• Greene County (31st Circuit): The posted advance deposit for minor guardianship and/or conservatorship is $760, with service and publication fees potentially additional.
• Rural circuits: Smaller counties often charge $120–$180 for the base filing, with lower service costs.

These are filing deposits — the court may adjust the final amount depending on what happens in the case.

Additional Costs Beyond the Filing Fee

The filing fee is not the entire bill. Other costs that come up in guardianship cases:

• Sheriff service fees for each parent served personally
• Publication fees if a parent cannot be found and the court orders service by publication (four consecutive weekly notices in a court-approved newspaper)
• Certified copies of the order and Letters of Guardianship — you will want several, and courts charge per copy
• Guardian ad Litem fees if the court appoints one in a contested case
• Background screening costs for the proposed guardian; § 475.050.4 generally requires the applicant to pay these expenses initially

For an uncontested case with both parents consenting, your total out-of-pocket might be $200–$400. A contested case with publication and a GAL can run $500–$1,500 or more in court costs alone, before any attorney fees.

How to File for a Fee Waiver

Under RSMo § 514.040, you can file a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis if you cannot afford court costs. This is a formal request to the judge to waive the filing fee, and it requires a financial affidavit detailing your household income, monthly expenses, assets, and debts.

To file one:

1. Get the In Forma Pauperis form from your circuit court clerk's office — most circuits have their own version
2. Complete the financial affidavit honestly and thoroughly
3. File the motion alongside your guardianship petition
4. The judge reviews the affidavit and either grants or denies the waiver

If approved, the court may waive fees, taxes, or charges it determines the person cannot pay. The order's coverage depends on the court's decision.

What a Fee Waiver Does Not Cover

Even with a successful fee waiver, some costs may remain:

• Publication and service costs may be waived as necessary process, depending on what the court determines under RSMo § 514.040
• Private Guardian ad Litem fees in contested cases (unless the court orders public payment)
• The background screening is initially at the applicant's expense, but an appointed guardian may petition for reimbursement of reasonable expenses under RSMo § 475.050.6
• Certified-copy fees depend on the circuit; the posted St. Louis County and Jackson County schedules provide copies without charge to parties allowed to proceed in forma pauperis

If any of these costs are a barrier, ask the court whether the In Forma Pauperis order can be extended to cover them. The answer varies by judge and circuit.

When Costs Are Consolidated

For multiple siblings, St. Louis County and Jackson County require a separate case for each child. Their posted schedules allow one filing fee to cover sibling cases filed on the same day.

The Missouri Kinship Guardianship and Custody Guide includes a county fee reference and a fee waiver walkthrough so you can budget for the actual costs in your circuit and apply for relief if you need it.

See more Missouri guides →