About Guardianship by State
Guardianship by State is a free, independent reference site published by Directory Assistance Group. It is built to help people find the official starting points for adult guardianship and conservatorship without wading through scattered court pages.
What this site is for
Adult guardianship and conservatorship can be urgent, confusing, and deeply personal. People often start with one simple question: where do I even file? This site is designed to answer that question clearly, then help you move to the next one.
Our guides focus on the practical basics people need first: which court handles the case, what the case is called in that state, where the official forms live, whether the courts offer self-help, what fees may apply, and what less-restrictive options may exist.
How to use it
Browse the state guides at /states if you want a clear overview before taking any action. Use the city, county, or ZIP search when you need the right local court page fast.
This site is especially useful for family members, caregivers, social workers, hospital staff, case managers, and adults planning ahead for themselves. It is meant to save time, reduce wrong turns, and point you back to official sources.
Who writes it
Guardianship by State is published by Directory Assistance Group, an independent publisher of free lookup tools and directories, and is written and maintained by a small editorial team. We are not lawyers, engineers, doctors, or government officials, and we do not claim to be. What we do is read the primary sources (statutes, agency guidance, university extension publications, and official court and health-department pages), turn them into plain steps, and link every claim back to where it came from.
How the site is paid for
The site is free to use and is supported by advertising, clearly labeled featured listings, and a few Amazon affiliate links. Advertisers do not choose or review our topics, and payment never changes what a guide says or the official details we list. Read our editorial standards and how we research for how we pick sources, correct mistakes, and keep ads separate from content.
Tell us what we got wrong
Rules change and local details vary. If you spot an error or an out-of-date figure, please send us a note with a link to the source. We read every correction, and fixes are logged on our site updates page.