Wisconsin Guardianship Filing Fees and Fee Waiver (Form CV-410A)

What Filing a Guardianship Costs

Filing for guardianship of a minor in Wisconsin involves several costs. Some are fixed, some vary by county, and some can be waived if you qualify.

Court filing fee: There is no fee to file a minor guardianship petition. Electronically filed cases have a $35 fee per party.

E-filing fee: $35 per filer if you file electronically through wicourts.gov. Pro se (self-represented) filers can submit paper forms directly to the clerk and avoid this fee.

Guardian ad litem (GAL) deposit: The court appoints a GAL in every § 48.9795 guardianship case, and most counties require an upfront deposit before scheduling a hearing:

• Burnett and Adams Counties: $300 mandatory deposit to the Register in Probate
• Dane County: $150 per parent (up to $300 total)
• Waukesha County lists a $500 GAL deposit for guardianship of minor cases; check with other counties for their current amounts

Service of process: If you use a sheriff to serve the petition on parents, expect $30–$75 per person served. Certified mail is cheaper but subject to return requirements.

Certified copies: After the court grants your guardianship, you will want multiple certified copies of the Letters of Guardianship (Form JN-1530). Copies from the Clerk of Court cost $14 plus $1.25 per page. Copies from the Register in Probate cost $10 plus $1.00 per page.

Newspaper publication: If a parent cannot be found after diligent search, the court may order service by publication — a legal notice in a local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks. This can cost $100–$300 depending on the paper.

How to Apply for a Fee Waiver

If your income is limited, Form CV-410A (Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs — Declaration of Indigency) lets you ask the court to waive filing fees and sheriff service costs.

Who Qualifies

You are eligible if you:

• Receive means-tested public assistance such as BadgerCare Plus (medical assistance), FoodShare (SNAP), SSI, or Wisconsin Works (W-2), or are represented through an indigent legal-services or volunteer-attorney program
• Are otherwise unable to pay because of poverty; the court considers household size, income, expenses, assets, debts, and the federal poverty guidelines

What to File

Fill out Form CV-410A and submit it alongside your guardianship petition (Form JN-1501). The court reviews your financial information and issues an order (Form CV-410B) either granting or denying the waiver.

What the Fee Waiver Covers

A granted fee waiver covers:

• Circuit court filing fees
• Sheriff service of process fees

What It Does Not Cover

This is where many caregivers get caught off guard:

• GAL deposits are generally not waived. The GAL fee is compensation for a private attorney, not a court fee. The court may order installment payments or shift the cost to the non-indigent parent, but the deposit requirement itself usually stands.
• Newspaper publication fees for service by publication cannot be waived by the court.
• Certified copy fees are not automatically included in the standard waiver request. Form CV-410A lets you specify other fees you cannot pay; include copy fees in your request, and the court will decide whether to waive them.

If you cannot afford the GAL deposit, tell the court. Judges have discretion to reduce the deposit, set up a payment plan, or order the county to cover costs in extreme hardship situations. The worst thing you can do is avoid filing because you assume you cannot afford it.

County Variations

Wisconsin has 72 counties, and guardianship intake procedures vary by county. Before you file:

• Call the court office that handles minor guardianships in your county — such as the Register in Probate, juvenile court, or Children's Court in Milwaukee — and ask about the exact filing fee, GAL deposit amount, and local filing requirements
• Ask whether they accept paper filings from pro se filers or require e-filing
• Confirm which division handles minor guardianship — it may be probate, juvenile, or a combined division

Some counties have self-help desks or kiosk programs where court staff can walk you through the paperwork. They cannot give legal advice, but they can answer procedural questions about where to file and what forms you need.

Our Wisconsin Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide breaks down every cost, includes the fee waiver application steps, and provides a budget worksheet so you know the total before you start.

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