How Much Does a Conservatorship Cost in California?

The cost of a California conservatorship depends on a few key factors: the type of conservatorship, whether you hire an attorney, whether the case is contested, and for a conservatorship of the estate, the size and complexity of the conservatee's assets. Cost is one of the first questions families ask, and one of the most stressful, because you're already dealing with a hard situation. 

Here's a clear breakdown of what goes into the cost of a California conservatorship, and the options that can make it more manageable.

What type of conservatorship is it?

Is it a conservatorship of the person only, or a conservatorship of the person and estate? Learn the difference here.

A standard, uncontested limited or general conservatorship of the person is a predictable process, which means the cost should be predictable too. My office handles these cases on a flat fee basis, so clients know exactly what they'll pay and won't be charged for every question they have. If you work with an attorney who bills by the hour instead of charging a flat fee, they should still be able to give you a solid estimate up front, since the scope of work in these cases is well known.

A general or limited conservatorship of the estate adds variables that can change the cost. The size and complexity of the conservatee's assets drive a lot of this: a modest estate with a bank account or two is straightforward, while a larger estate with real property, investment accounts, or a business interest takes more time to inventory and appraise for to the court. Ongoing accountings must also be filed with the court, and preparing them brings its own costs, both from an accounting preparer and from attorney fees. Because of this, these cases are harder to quote as a flat fee up front, and cost will depend more on the specifics of the estate.

Contested cases, where the conservatee or relatives disagree and multiple hearings are needed, cost significantly more, regardless of type.

The specific costs of a conservatorship

A conservatorship typically involves different categories of expense:

Court filing fee. You pay a fee to file the petition with the probate court. This runs around $435, though the exact amount varies slightly by county. You may qualify for a fee waiver, more on that below.

Court investigator fee. The court appoints an investigator to do some legwork investigating the case. Counties set their own investigator fees, which commonly run from $500 to $900, depending on the county. Fee waivers can apply here too.

Attorney fees. If you hire an attorney, this is usually the largest piece. For uncontested matters, some attorneys charge flat fees, and some bill by the hour.

Asset inventory and appraisal. For a conservatorship of the estate, a larger or more complex estate often requires a professional appraiser, which adds to the overall cost.

Bond premium. In conservatorship cases for finances, the court requires the conservator to post a surety bond. The premium scales with the size of the estate.

Ongoing court accountings. Conservators of the estate must submit regular accountings to the court. The larger the estate, the more there is to document, and the more it typically costs to prepare.

Who pays?

Conservatorship of the person and estate. These costs can often be paid from the conservatee's estate, meaning their own funds, rather than out of the pocket of the person filing the petition. The court must approve any fees payable to the attorney.

Conservatorship of the person only, with no estate. Since there's no estate to draw from, these costs are typically paid out of pocket by the person filing the petition.

Two things that can ease the cost

Fee waivers. If the proposed conservatee has limited income and/or is receiving public benefits, you can request a fee waiver using the court's fee waiver forms. When granted, it can cover the filing fee, investigation costs, and other court fees. Importantly, for conservatorships the court generally looks at the proposed conservatee's ability to pay.

Flat fee representation. A flat fee means you know your attorney cost up front and are not charged every time you reach out to your attorney with a question. I handle all uncontested conservatorship of the person cases on a flat fee basis.

Do you have to use an attorney?

No, you don’t. For a standard uncontested conservatorship of the person only, handling the case yourself is a real option. But the most common cause of delay and added stress in conservatorship cases is paperwork that gets rejected and has to be redone, or not serving the necessary people with required paperwork. An experienced attorney who prepares the petition correctly the first time and knows all the court procedures that must be adhered to often saves families from delays, do overs, and missed deadlines.

I offer two options:

Full package: I serve as your attorney through the process and my office handles everything that needs to be done to get you to the finish line.

Document preparation package: We prepare all the documents for your case and give you an instruction manual to handle the case yourself. I do not serve as your attorney. 

Get a clear, upfront number for your situation

Rather than guess, the best way to know what your conservatorship will cost is a conversation. I offer flat fee arrangements for many cases specifically so my clients aren't surprised by billing, and I'll give you a clear picture of the total costs, court fees included, before you commit to anything. I serve families throughout Marin, the greater Bay Area, and beyond.

Get in touch for a consultation →

This article is general information about California law and is not legal advice. Court fees change over time and vary by county; attorney fees vary by case. Please confirm current fees with the relevant court and consult a qualified attorney for a quote specific to your situation.