FW-001-GC - Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or Conservatee)

Summary

Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or Conservatee)

Text

Form ID: FW-001-GC
Title: Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or Conservatee)
Effective Date: 2026-03-01
Mandatory Form: yes
Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt
Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/FW-001-GC
Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fw001gc.pdf
Alternate Download URLs: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fw001gcc.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fw001gck.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fw001gcs.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fw001gcv.pdf
Form Detail Page:
Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or Conservatee)
(FW-001-GC)
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.
Get form FW-001-GC
汉语
Get form FW-001-GC in Chinese Simplified
(Chinese Simplified)
한국어
Get form FW-001-GC in Korean
(Korean)
español
Get form FW-001-GC in Spanish
(Spanish)
Tiếng Việt
Get form FW-001-GC in Vietnamese
(Vietnamese)
Effective: March 1, 2026
Go to
How-to instructions for Fee Waivers
PDF Text:
Judicial Council of California, courts.ca.gov 
Rev. March 1, 2026, Mandatory Form 
Gov. Code, § 68633; 
Cal. Rules of Court, rules 3.51, 7.5
Request to Waive Court Fees      
(Ward or Conservatee)
FW-001-GC Request to Waive Court Fees   
(Ward or Conservatee) CONFIDENTIAL
Clerk stamps date here when form is filed.
Fill in court name and street address:
Superior Court of California, County of
Fill in case number and name:
Case Number:
Case Name:
• The ward’s or conservatee’s financial situation improves during this case, or
This form must be used by a guardian or conservator, or by a petitioner 
for the appointment of a guardian or conservator, to request a waiver of 
court fees in the guardianship or conservatorship court proceeding or in 
any other civil action in which the guardian or conservator represents the 
interests of the ward or conservatee as a plaintiff or defendant.   
If the ward or conservatee (including a proposed ward or conservatee if a 
petition for appointment of a guardian or conservator has been filed but has not 
yet been decided by the court) directly receives public benefits or is supported 
by public benefits received by another for their support, is a low-income 
person, or does not have enough income to pay for their household’s basic 
needs and the court fees, you may use this form to ask the court to waive the 
court fees. The court may order you to answer questions about the finances of 
the ward or conservatee. If the court waives the fees, the ward or conservatee, 
their estate, or someone with a duty to support the ward or conservatee, may 
still have to pay later if:
• You cannot give the court proof of the ward’s or conservatee’s eligibility,
• You settle the civil case on behalf of the ward or conservatee for $10,000 or   
more. The trial court that waives fees will have a lien on any such settlement 
in the amount of the waived fees and costs. The court may also charge the 
ward or conservatee, or their estate, any collection costs.                 
1 Your Information (guardian or conservator, or person asking the court to appoint a guardian or conservator):
Name: Phone:
Street or mailing address:
City: State: Zip:
2 Your Lawyer (if you have one): Name:
Firm or Affiliation: State Bar No.:
Address: Phone:
City: State: Zip: Email:
a.   The lawyer has agreed to advance all or a portion of court fees or costs (check one): Yes No 
b. (If yes, your lawyer must sign here.) Lawyer’s signature:
If your lawyer is not providing legal-aid type services based on your or the ward’s or conservatee’s low income, 
you may have to go to a hearing to explain why you are asking the court to waive the fees.
3 Ward's or Conservatee's Information (file a separate Request for each ward in a multiward case):
Name: Age and date of birth (ward only):
Street or mailing address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
4 Ward's or Conservatee's Lawyer, if any: Name:
Firm or Affiliation: State Bar No.:
Address: Phone:
City: State: Zip: Email:
5 Ward or Conservatee's Job (job title; if not employed, so state):
Name of employer:
Employer’s address: State: Zip:
FW-001-GC, Page 1 of 4

Rev. March 1, 2026 Request to Waive Court Fees
(Ward or Conservatee)
Name of (Proposed) Ward or Conservatee: Case Number:
6 What court's fees or costs are you asking to be waived?
Superior Court (See Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs (form FW-001-INFO).)
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, or Appellate Division of Superior Court (See Information Sheet on Waiver of 
Appellate Court Fees (form APP-015/FW-015-INFO).)
7 Check here if you asked the court to waive court fees for this case in the last six months.
(If your previous request is reasonably available, please attach it to this form and check here):
8 Why are you asking the court to waive the ward’s or conservatee’s court fees?  
a. The ward or one or both of the ward’s parents, or the conservatee or the conservatee’s spouse or registered 
domestic partner, receive (check all that apply): 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) State Supplemental Payment (SSP) SNAP (Food Stamps) 
IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) CalWORKS or Tribal TANF Medi-Cal
County Relief/General Assistance CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Aged, Blind, and Disabled)
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program)
Unemployment Compensation
(Names and relationships to ward or conservatee of persons who receive the public benefits listed above):
b. The gross monthly income of the ward’s or conservatee’s household (before deductions for taxes) is less than 
the amount listed below. (If you check 8b, you must fill out items 14, 15, and 16 on page 4 of this form.)*
Family Size Family Income Family Size Family Income Family Size Family Income
1 $2,660.00 3 $4,553.33 5 $6,446.67
2 $3,606.67 4 $5,500.00 6 $7,393.33
If more than 6 people 
at home, add $946.67 
for each extra person.
c. The ward’s or conservatee’s household does not have enough income to pay for its basic needs and the court 
fees. I ask the court to (check one, and you must fill out items 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 on page 4):*
(1) Waive all court fees and costs. (2) Waive some court fees and costs.
(3)  Let the (proposed) guardian or conservator, on behalf of the (proposed) ward or conservatee, make 
payments over time.
* (Do not include income of guardian or conservator living in the household in 8b or 8c or count them in family size in 
8b. unless they are a parent of the ward or the spouse or registered domestic partner of the conservatee.) 
Guardians or petitioners for their appointment must complete items 9 and 10. 
9 Ward's Estate: Person only, no estate. Inventory or petition estimated value: 
Source (e.g., gift, inheritance, settlement, judgment, insurance): Est. collection date:
10 Ward's Parents' Information:
a. Name of ward’s parent: Deceased (date of death):
Street or mailing address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
b. Name of ward’s parent: Deceased (date of death):
Street or mailing address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone:
c. Ward’s parents are (check all that apply): married living together separated divorced
Support order for ward? No Yes Payable to (name):
Payor (name):
Court: Case Number:
Date of order (if multiple, date of latest): Monthly amount:
FW-001-GC, Page 2 of 4

Rev. March 1, 2026 Request to Waive Court Fees
(Ward or Conservatee)
Name of (Proposed) Ward or Conservatee: Case Number:
 Conservators or petitioners for their appointment must complete items 11–13.
11 Conservatee's Estate: Person only, no estate.
Inventory or petition estimated value: Est. collection date:
12 Conservatee's Spouse’s or Registered Domestic Partner's Information:
Name of conservatee’s spouse or registered domestic partner: Spouse Partner
Date of marriage or partnership: Deceased (date of death):
Street or mailing address: Phone:
City: State: Zip:
Name of employer (if none, so state):
Employer’s address: State: Zip:
The conservatee’s spouse or partner                              managing, or following appointment of a conservator is  
planning to manage, some or all of the couple’s community property outside the conservatorship estate.
is is not
If you selected “is” above: The income, money, and property shown on page 4 
the income and property managed, or expected to be managed, by the spouse/partner outside the estate.  
includes does not include
Divorced (date of final judgment or decree ):
Court:
Case Number: Support order for conservatee? No Yes
Date of support order (if multiple, date of latest): Monthly amount:
13 The Conservatee and Trusts:
The conservatee:
a. is is not a trustor or settlor of a trust.
b. is is not a beneficiary of a trust.
If you selected “Is” to complete any of the above statements, identify and provide, in an attachment to this Request, 
the current address and telephone number of the current trustee(s) of each trust, describe the general terms of and 
value of each trust and the nature and value of the conservatee’s interest in each trust, and the amount(s) and 
frequency of any distributions to or for the benefit of the conservatee prior to your appointment as conservator of 
which you are aware. (You may use Judicial Council form MC-025 for this purpose.) 
All applicants who checked item 8b or item 8c on page 2 must continue to and follow the  
instructions for completion of items 14–16 or items 14–18 on page 4, before signing below. 
The information I have provided on this form and all attachments about the (proposed) ward or conservatee is 
true and correct to the best of my information and belief. The information I have provided on this form and all 
attachments concerning myself is true and correct. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State 
of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date:
Print your name here
 Sign here
FW-001-GC, Page 3 of 4

For your protection and privacy, please press the Clear 
button after you have printed the form.
Rev. March 1, 2026 Request to Waive Court Fees
(Ward or Conservatee)
Case Number:Name of (Proposed) Ward or Conservatee:
If you checked 8a on page 2, do not fill out below. If you checked 8b, you must answer questions 14–16. If you checked 
8c, you must answer questions 14–18. If you need more space, attach form MC-025 or attach a sheet of paper, and write 
"Financial Information" and the ward’s or conservatee’s name and case number at the top.
14 Check here if the ward’s or conservatee’s income changes a lot 
from month to month. If it does, complete the form based on their 
average income for the past 12 months.
15 Ward's or Conservatee's Gross Monthly Income
a. List the source and amount of any income the ward or conservatee  
gets each month, including: wages or other income from work 
before deductions, spousal/child support, retirement, social security, 
disability, unemployment, military basic allowance for quarters 
(BAQ), veterans payments, dividends, interest, trust income, 
annuities, net business or rental income, reimbursement for job-
related expenses, gambling or lottery winnings, etc.
(1) $
(2) $
(3) $
(4) $
(5) $
b. Total monthly income: $
16 Ward's or Conservatee's Household's Income
a. List the income of all other persons living in the ward’s or conservatee’s 
home who depend in whole or in part on them for support, or on whom 
they depend in whole or in part for support.
Name Age Relationship Gross Monthly Income
(1) $
(2) $
(3) $
(4) $
(5) $
(6) $
(7) $
(8) $
(9) $
(10) $
b. Total monthly income of persons above: $
Total monthly income and 
household income (15b plus 16b): $
To list any other facts you want the court to know, such as the 
(proposed) ward’s or conservatee’s unusual medical expenses, 
etc, attach form MC-025 or attach a sheet of paper and write 
“Financial Information” and the (proposed) ward’s or 
conservatee’s name and case number at the top. 
 
          Check here if you attach another page.
Important! If the ward’s or conservatee’s financial situation or 
ability to pay court fees improves, you must notify the court 
within five days on form FW-010-GC.
Do not include income of guardian or conservator living 
in the household in item 16, their money and property in 
item 17, or their deductions and expenses in item 18 
unless they are a parent of the ward or the spouse or 
registered domestic partner of the conservatee. 
Ward's or Conservatee's Household's Money and Property
a. Cash $
b. All financial accounts (list bank name and amount):
(1) $
(2) $
(3) $
c. Cars, boats, and other vehicles
Make / Year Fair Market  
Value
How Much You 
Still Owe
(1) $ $
(2) $ $
$ $(3)
d. Real estate
Address
Fair Market 
Value
How Much You 
Still Owe
(1) $ $
(2) $ $
e. Other personal property (jewelry, furniture, furs, stocks, 
bonds, etc.):
Describe
Fair Market 
Value
How Much You 
Still Owe
(1) $ $
(2) $ $
17
18 Ward's or Conservatee's Household's Monthly  
Deductions and Expenses
a. List any payroll deductions and the monthly amount below:
(1) $
(2) $
(3) $
(4) $
$b. Rent or house payment and maintenance
c. Food and household supplies $
d. Utilities and telephone $
e. Clothing $
f. Laundry and cleaning $
g. Medical and dental expenses $
h. Insurance (life, health, accident, etc.) $
i. School, child care $
j. Child, spousal support (another marriage) $
k. Transportation, gas, auto repair and insurance $
l. Installment payments (list each below):
Paid to:
(1) $
(2) $
(3) $
m. Wages/earnings withheld by court order $
n. Any other monthly expenses (list each below).
Paid to: How Much?
(1) $
(2) $
(3) $
Total monthly expenses 
       (add 18a –18n above): $
FW-001-GC, Page 4 of 4

Retrieval chunks

• #1

  Form ID: FW-001-GC Title: Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or Conservatee) Effective Date: 2026-03-01 Mandatory Form: yes Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/FW-001-GC Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fw001gc.pdf Alternate Download…

• #2

  by public benefits received by another for their support, is a low-income person, or does not have enough income to pay for their household’s basic needs and the court fees, you may use this form to ask the court to waive the court fees. The court may order you to answer questions about the finances of the ward or…

• #3

  7 Check here if you asked the court to waive court fees for this case in the last six months. (If your previous request is reasonably available, please attach it to this form and check here): 8 Why are you asking the court to waive the ward’s or conservatee’s court fees? a. The ward or one or both of the ward’s par…

• #4

  c. Ward’s parents are (check all that apply): married living together separated divorced Support order for ward? No Yes Payable to (name): Payor (name): Court: Case Number: Date of order (if multiple, date of latest): Monthly amount: FW-001-GC, Page 2 of 4 Rev. March 1, 2026 Request to Waive Court Fees (Ward or…

• #5

  The information I have provided on this form and all attachments about the (proposed) ward or conservatee is true and correct to the best of my information and belief. The information I have provided on this form and all attachments concerning myself is true and correct. I declare under penalty of perjury under the …

• #6

  Check here if you attach another page. Important! If the ward’s or conservatee’s financial situation or ability to pay court fees improves, you must notify the court within five days on form FW-010-GC. Do not include income of guardian or conservator living in the household in item 16, their money and property in…