How Much Does Guardianship Cost in Washington State? Total Costs and Attorney Fees

The total cost of a minor guardianship in Washington depends on three things: whether you are a relative, whether you hire an attorney, and whether a parent contests the petition. A relative filing an uncontested case without a lawyer can spend under $100 total. A contested case with attorneys on both sides can run $10,000 or more.

Filing Fee: Free for Relatives

Under RCW 11.130.170, relatives filing a minor guardianship petition are exempt from the Superior Court filing fee. This includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and other family members. The exemption is automatic — you do not need to prove financial hardship or fill out a fee waiver form.

Non-relative petitioners pay the standard Superior Court filing fee. As of 2026, King County charges $290 for a minor guardianship filing. Other counties may vary slightly.

If you are a non-relative and cannot afford the fee, you can request a waiver under General Rule 34 (GR 34) by filing WPF GR 34.0100. You qualify if you receive needs-based assistance such as TANF, SSI, or Food Stamps; have household income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guideline; or have income above 125% but recurring basic living expenses leave you unable to pay. Other compelling circumstances can also support a waiver.

Background Check Fees

Two background checks are mandatory before the court will enter a final guardianship order:

Washington State Patrol (WSP) criminal-history data: Before a final order, the court must require state and national criminal-identification data from WSP for every proposed guardian and adult household member (RCW 11.130.210). The online WATCH name-and-birth-date search costs $11 per person but provides Washington records only. A fingerprint-based WSP check costs $58 to process; if WSP takes the fingerprints in Olympia, its fingerprinting service costs an additional $16 per person.

DCYF Child Abuse History Check: Required for the proposed guardian and household members age 16 or older. There is no direct fee for this check — the court issues an order (Forms GDN M 404/405) directing DCYF to search its records. However, processing time varies and follow-up may be needed.

For a household with two adults, two online WATCH searches cost $22, but they cover only Washington records. Two fingerprint-based WSP checks cost $116 in processing fees, or $148 if WSP takes the fingerprints in Olympia, before other case costs.

Certified Copy and Document Fees

After the judge signs the guardianship order, you need certified copies of the Letters of Guardianship (Form GDN ALL 004) to present to schools, doctors, banks, and agencies. County clerks charge for certified copies — typically $5 for the first page and $1 for each additional page.

Order several certified copies at once. You will need them for the child's school, medical providers, insurance, DSHS if you are applying for benefits, and your own records. Five to ten copies is a reasonable starting point, costing roughly $25 to $60 depending on page count and county.

Attorney Fees

This is where costs vary the most:

Uncontested cases (both parents consent or are absent/unable to participate) typically cost $2,000 to $5,000 in attorney fees. The attorney prepares the forms, handles service of process, and attends the hearing on your behalf.

Contested cases (a parent objects and the matter goes to a full evidentiary hearing) can cost $5,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the dispute, whether expert witnesses are needed, and how many court appearances are required.

Flat-fee vs. hourly: Some family law attorneys offer flat fees for uncontested guardianship filings. Others bill hourly at $200 to $400 per hour. Ask about the fee structure before retaining an attorney, and get the agreement in writing.

Pro se filing eliminates attorney fees entirely. Many relatives file successfully without a lawyer, especially in uncontested cases. Court facilitators, CLEAR hotlines, and WashingtonLawHelp.org provide free support for self-represented filers.

Court Visitor and GAL Fees

If the court appoints a Court Visitor or Guardian ad Litem, their fees may be assessed to the parties. Costs vary by county and case complexity — simple cases may have modest fees or none, while complex investigations with multiple interviews can run into the hundreds or low thousands of dollars. GDN M 409 lets the court assign payment to the parties or to the county at public expense.

Total Cost Estimates

Your Next Step

Our Washington Guardianship Court Process Guide includes a fee waiver worksheet and walks through each cost step by step, so you know exactly what to budget before you file.

See more Washington guides →