PROCEDURE FOR APPOINTMENT OF A GUARDIAN

 Any person knowledgeable about and interested in the ward's welfare may institute guardianship proceedings. The person petitioning for the appointment of a guardian must use the applicable Georgia Probate Court Standard Form (GPCSF), which is available at the courthouse or online at the official statewide Supreme Court Website. If the facts stated in the petition sufficiently support the petitioner's claim that the proposed ward is incapacitated, the court orders an evaluation by a doctor or other medical professional as appropriate. The petition and the order must be served personally on the proposed ward. Unless the court is notified within two days that the ward has an attorney, the court appoints one. If the evaluation report and the pleadings together establish probable cause of incapacity, the court holds a hearing to determine whether a guardianship should be ordered.

Fees

The fees for any guardianship proceeding must be paid upon filing the petition with the Probate Court.
Acceptable payment is cash, check or charge. (There is a 5% convenience fee for use of a charge card).

The filing fees payable to the Probate Court are:

• $177: Filing fee
• $2: Recording fee (cost is per page)
• $200: Statutory fee for court-appointed medical professional
• Statutory fee for court-appointed attorney for the proposed ward (the attorney may be awarded additional fees if extra work is required)
• $50: Sheriff's Service fee