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FW-001-GCMandatory

Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or Conservatee)

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective March 1, 2026

This form is used to ask the court to let you file papers and receive services without paying court fees and costs. It is used when the person needing help (the ward or conservatee) or their family has low income or receives public benefits.

The court describes it as: Ask the court to let you file papers and receive services without paying court fees and costs in a guardianship or conservatorship case because the ward or conservatee, or one or both of the ward's parents, or the conservatee's spouse or domestic partner receive public benefits, live in a low-income household, or the household does not have enough income to pay for their basic needs and the court fees.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Motions

Stage: Motions

This form must be used by a guardian, conservator, or someone asking for one when filing in a guardianship or conservatorship case, or in any other civil case where the guardian or conservator represents the ward or conservatee.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who must use this form?
A guardian, conservator, or a person asking for the appointment of a guardian or conservator must use this form to request a fee waiver.
What happens if the court grants the waiver?
If the court waives the fees, the ward or conservatee, their estate, or someone who has a duty to support them might still have to pay later under certain conditions.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect March 1, 2026.

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