State guide
North Dakota
North Dakota adult guardianship and conservatorship are district court matters, and the judiciary’s self-help pages split the topics between adult guardianship and conservatorship of adults and minor children. North Dakota also has a specific Supported Decisionmaking Agreements chapter, making supported decision-making a named statutory alternative.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Try a ZIP like 30303, “Travis County” or “Columbus, OH”
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship and conservatorship petitions are filed through the Clerk of District Court and are heard in North Dakota state district court by a judge or judicial referee.
- What it's called
- guardian for personal decision-making and conservator for property or financial affairs
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $160.00, unless the court grants a fee waiver.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- North Dakota has a supported decision-making law in N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-36, and the judiciary also lists power of attorney, health care directive, representative payee, and other less restrictive options.
- Law
- N.D.C.C. ch. 30.1-28 (guardianship), ch. 30.1-29 (conservatorship), and ch. 30.1-36 (supported decisionmaking agreements).
Official resources in North Dakota
North Dakota Court System - Adult Guardianship
Official self-help page for adult guardianship, with guides, forms, alternatives, and program information.
North Dakota Court System - Contact the Legal Self Help Center
Official contact page for the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center.
ND Courts Guardianship Training
Official training portal with adult guardianship training and alternatives-to-guardianship materials.
Key facts for North Dakota
- A North Dakota state district court judge or judicial referee decides adult guardianship petitions.
- Adult guardianship petitions are filed with the Clerk of District Court in the North Dakota county where the petition will be filed.
- The published filing fee to establish adult guardianship is $160.00 unless the court grants a fee waiver.
- North Dakota has Supported Decisionmaking Agreements in Chapter 30.1-36 of the Century Code.
- A conservatorship is the district court process for appointing someone to manage property or financial affairs.
- The adult guardianship page lists power of attorney, health care directive, representative payee, and supported decision making as less restrictive options.
County court guardianship pages in North Dakota
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota Legal Self Help Center Burleigh | Bismarck | (701) 328-1852 | Provides information about civil court process to self-represented people; cannot give legal advice. |
| Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship Burleigh | Bismarck | (701) 328-3010 | State office referenced on the adult guardianship page for establishment program funding and guardianship oversight. |
| Cass County Clerk of District Court Cass | Fargo | (701) 451-6900 | Clerk’s office for district court filings in the state’s largest county. |
| Burleigh County Clerk of District Court Burleigh | Bismarck | (701) 222-6690 ext. 1 for Clerk’s Office | Official clerk contact for district court filings in Burleigh County. |
| Grand Forks County Clerk of District Court Grand Forks | Grand Forks | (701) 787-2700 | Official clerk contact for district court filings in Grand Forks County. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Read both the Adult Guardianship and Conservatorship self-help pages before filing so you choose the right type of case.
- If cost is a barrier, review the filing fee waiver materials and the Guardianship Establishment Program before petitioning.
- Call the Legal Self Help Center or the local Clerk of District Court to confirm county filing logistics and hearing assignment practices.
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 North Dakota's population center, for comparison only):
- South Dakota UJS Legal Form Helpline, South Dakota · about 234 miles
- Pennington County Civil Department, Clerk of Court, South Dakota · about 289 miles
- Seventh Judicial Circuit Administration, South Dakota · about 289 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.North Dakota Court System - Adult Guardianship
Website →Phone: (701) 328-3010 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the North Dakota page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.