State guide
Maryland
Maryland splits adult guardianship into guardian of the person and guardian of the property, both handled in circuit court. Maryland Courts also publish a dedicated alternatives-to-guardianship page that highlights supported decision-making and other less restrictive planning tools.
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 guardianship petitions are handled in the circuit court.
- What it's called
- guardian of the person and guardian of the property
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $165
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Maryland Courts identify supported decision-making, family guidance, in-home and social services, alternative housing, and advance directives as less restrictive alternatives.
- Law
- Md. Code, Estates and Trusts §§ 13-201 and 13-705
Official resources in Maryland
Official forms page for petitions, reports, and instructions for guardianship of the person and property.
Official self-help page describing supported decision-making and other tools that may avoid guardianship.
Official statute page for guardianship of the person of a disabled person.
Official statute page for guardianship of the property of a disabled person.
Official statewide page listing circuit-court help centers, including centers that note some locations help with guardianship.
Key facts for Maryland
- Maryland uses guardian of the person for personal decisions and guardian of the property for financial affairs.
- A guardian of the person may be appointed only if no less restrictive form of intervention is available consistent with the person's welfare and safety.
- Maryland Courts list supported decision-making as a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.
- The circuit court fee summary chart lists $165 for a new civil case.
- Maryland guardianship forms include petitions, medical certificates, annual reports, and inventory/accounting forms.
- Family Court Help Centers say some centers help with adoption and guardianship cases.
County court guardianship pages in Maryland
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery Family Law Self Help Center Montgomery County | Rockville | 240-777-9145 | Circuit-court family help center listed by Maryland Courts; some centers help with guardianship cases. |
| Prince George's Family Division Prince George's County | Upper Marlboro | 301-780-8000 | Circuit-court family help location listed by Maryland Courts on the statewide help-center page. |
| Prince George's Family Division Prince George's County | Upper Marlboro | 240-391-6370 | Additional family help location listed by Maryland Courts with separate room and hours on the statewide help-center page. |
| Baltimore County Access to Justice Resource Center Baltimore County | Towson | 410-887-3446 | Baltimore County circuit-court self-help office/resource-center contact published by Maryland Courts. |
| Maryland Court Help Center | Not published* | 410-260-1392 | Statewide remote help center that says it answers civil questions including guardianship. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Use the official Maryland guardianship forms page first, because the petition, medical certificates, and annual reporting forms are all separate.
- If you are considering guardianship of the person, document why less restrictive options such as supported decision-making or advance directives are not enough.
- Contact the local circuit-court help center or the statewide Maryland Court Help Center before filing if you are unrepresented.
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 Maryland's population center, for comparison only):
- Probate Division Clerk's Office, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- Probate Self-Help Center, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- Probate Self-Help Center, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Maryland Courts - Guardianship Forms
Website →Phone not shown: use the contact page on the official website above.Your city or county office: Maryland Manual: county governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Maryland page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.