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Investigation Fees

General Information

A Court Investigation is required for the following matters: Probate Guardianship or Conservatorship, Termination of Guardianship or Conservatorship, Step-Parent Adoption, Termination of Parental Rights, Emancipation of a Minor, Underage Marriage Permission.

Fees

The following fee schedule has been adopted by the court for the various services provided by the Court Investigator:

Investigation Service Fee
Guardianship Investigation ( up to 6 hours) $450
Guardianship Status Reports No Charge
Guardianship Review Report $75
Guardianship Termination $350
Conservatorship Investigation Initial Report (up to 12 hours) $600
Conservatorship – Periodic Reviews (up to 6 hours) $300
Conservatorship Termination Report $75
Step-Parent Adoption Investigation ( up to 3 hours) $200
Termination of Parental Rights $450
Under Age Marriage Permission No Charge
Emancipation of Minor No Charge

If fees present a hardship, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. The Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) is the basic fee waiver form. For additional fees a (FW-002) is required. To learn more about this form and applying for a fee waiver, read the Information Sheet (FW-001-INFO) on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs.

Statutes

Statutes governing the investigations and reimbursement of the costs are as follows:

Nature of Report Code Section Requiring Report Code Section Allowing Reimbursement
Petition to Declare Child Free from Parental Custody and Control FAM §7850 FAM §7851.5 Petitioner liable for costs NTE $900. Court may defer, waive or reduce costs when economic hardship.
Step-Parent Adoption FAM §9000 FAM §9001 – Step-Parent is liable for costs NTE $700. Court or court investigator, may defer, waive or reduce costs when economic hardship.
Child Custody Investigation FAM §3111 FAM §3112 Parent charged with support after court determines financial condition of parent.
Probate Guardianship – Relative Guardian PROB §1513 PROB §1513.1 – County shall assess guardian or estate of ward
Conservatorship Proceedings PROB §1826 PROB §1851.5 Court order estate to pay unless it would pose undue hardship on the estate.
Conservatorship – Periodic Reviews PROB §1851 PROB §1851.5 Court order estate to pay unless it would pose undue hardship on the estate.

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