State guide
California
In California, adult cases are usually conservatorships, not adult guardianships, and conservatorship cases are heard in the probate department and filed with the probate clerk. California Courts' self-help materials say less restrictive options must be considered and list supported decision-making, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, representative payees, special needs trusts or CalABLE accounts, and guardian ad litem.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult conservatorship petitions are filed in the California superior court and are heard in the probate department.
- What it's called
- conservator of the person and conservator of the estate.
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- Filing fees start at $435, plus an investigation fee set by the court.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- California Courts lists supported decision-making, power of attorney, advance health care directive, representative payee, special needs trust or CalABLE account, and guardian ad litem as alternatives to conservatorship.
- Law
- Cal. Prob. Code, Division 4, Part 3 (commencing with Section 1800).
Official resources in California
State self-help overview for adult conservatorships, including types, steps, fees, and related resources.
Official Judicial Council form page for the petition used to ask the court to appoint a conservator of the person or estate.
Official California Courts alternatives page comparing supported decision-making and other options with conservatorship.
Largest-county court self-help portal with conservatorship and guardianship help for self-represented litigants.
County probate self-help page linking Los Angeles court self-help and California Courts conservatorship help.
Key facts for California
- Conservatorship cases are heard in the probate department of the court and filed with the probate clerk.
- California uses conservator of the person and conservator of the estate for adult probate conservatorships.
- The filing fees for a conservatorship start at $435, plus an investigation fee set by the court.
- The statewide civil fee schedule lists $435 for a petition for appointment of conservator.
- Temporary letters of conservatorship or guardianship have a published $60 filing fee on the statewide schedule.
- California Courts says a conservatorship requires showing that less restrictive options would not work.
County court guardianship pages in California
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator Office Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Not published* | Court self-help phone line for appointments and information; the court's self-help portal includes conservatorship and guardianship help. |
| Los Angeles Superior Court Probate Division Los Angeles | Los Angeles | (213) 830-0800 | Probate Division contact for checking whether a probate action has been filed; Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Room 429, is listed for in-person inquiry. |
| Los Angeles Superior Court Probate Investigator Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 213-830-0855 | Probate investigator contact listed by the court for questions and concerns. |
| Mental Health Clerk’s Office Los Angeles | Los Angeles | (323) 441-1800 | Court contact listed for assistance during a conservatorship when specific treatment-related court help is needed. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use GC-310 and review your local superior court probate page for any county-specific forms or investigator fees.
- If you are in Los Angeles County, start with the court's Self-Help Center or Probate Self-Help page before filing.
- Check alternatives first, especially supported decision-making, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from California's population center, for comparison only):
- State of Nevada Self-Help Center - Adult Guardianship, Nevada · about 210 miles
- Second Judicial District Court - Adult Guardianship, Nevada · about 278 miles
- Washoe Courts - Adult Guardianship Forms and Packets, Nevada · about 278 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.California Courts Self-Help - Conservatorships
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the California page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.