IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE Register in Chancery Kent County 38 The Green Dover, DE 19901 302-735-1930 Register in Chancery New Castle County 500 N. King Street Wilmington, DE 19801 302-255-0544 Register in Chancery Sussex County 34 The Circle Georgetown, DE 19947 302-856-5775 COSTS INVOLVED & GENERAL INFORMATION ON ACTING AS A PRO SE LITIGANT Petition for the Appointment of a Guardian of the Person of an Alleged Disabled Person You have elected to proceed without an attorney (pro se) to file a petition for guardianship. Our office wants you to be completely aware of the fees that are associated with this type of filing. The initial filing fee of $135.00 and an additional $2.00 per page scanning fee is required at the time you file your petition with our office. Note, we charge a $1.50 per page for any documents that you may need xeroxed. Acceptable method of payment is either cash or check. If you choose to write a check, make it payable to "Register in Chancery." A Delaware lawyer will be appointed by the Court to act as the attorney ad litem. This attorney will represent the alleged disabled person over whom guardianship is sought. The attorney will investigate and respond to the petition you are about to file. There will be costs for this attorney ad litem. The Court will award the attorney ad litem a reasonable fee for his/her work on behalf of the alleged disabled person and will decide which party is responsible for payment of the fee. For uncontested matters, the fee can be up to $750.00. Extraordinary cases such as contested petitions or those that require out of state travel or further investigation may exceed $750.00. AS THE PETITIONER, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEE OF THE ATTORNEY AD LITEM. You will be contacted by the Court once the attorney ad litem has been appointed to inform you when the court hearing will be held. You must arrive at least fifteen (15) minutes early for the hearing. Please be advised that you will be unable to bring a cell phone or any electronic device into the Court building. When you arrive, you will need to check in with the Court Clerk and then take a seat in the hall. When your case is called, you will need to step to the podium, state your name and state your case to the Judicial Officer. The Judicial Officer will have a copy of your petition and may ask you questions in reference to it. Please familiarize yourself with this guardianship packet. If you are appointed as guardian, you will receive additional documents and information from the Court. Please Note: There is additional information and forms available on the Court's website at http://courts.delaware.gov/Chancery/guardianship/index.stm American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE Register in Chancery Kent County 38 The Green Dover, DE 19901 302-735-1930 Register in Chancery New Castle County 500 N. King Street Wilmington, DE 19801 302-255-0544 Register in Chancery Sussex County 34 The Circle Georgetown, DE 19947 302-856-5775 Guardianship Volunteer Program The Court of Chancery utilizes a volunteer program designed to monitor individuals who have been placed under guardianship and whose care is the responsibility of court-appointed guardians. This important monitoring function is coordinated by the Guardianship Monitoring Program of the Office of the Public Guardian, and enables the Court to receive first-hand information about people for whom the Court has ultimate responsibility. The volunteer, designated by the Office of the Public Guardian, is assigned a case, given necessary information about the case, and makes an appointment to meet with the guardian and ward. After the visit, the volunteer fills out a report indicating the status of the ward and may make recommendations for action. The volunteer's report is filed by the Office of the Public Guardian and subsequently viewed by Court staff to determine if further action is necessary. The volunteer is considered an extension of the Office of the Public Guardian and the Court and should be treated accordingly. Persons subject to guardianship are very important and they deserve every right and protection available. You should expect to be contacted in the future by a volunteer and your cooperation with scheduling meeting times with the volunteer is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time and effort. Sincerely, Sherri Hageman, M.S. Guardianship Advocacy Director Office of the Public Guardian (302) 255-1901 or (302) 358-0782 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE IN THE MATTER OF: : : : : : : C.M. # _______________ __________________________, An alleged disabled person PETITION TO APPOINT GUARDIAN(S) OF THE PERSON Petitioner(s), __________________________________________, represents: 1. Information about Petitioner(s) (You are the Petitioner): a. Current address(es): __________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b. Telephone Number(s): ________________________________________ c. Relationship to alleged disabled person: __________________________ 2. Information about the alleged disabled person: a. Age: __________________________ b. Date of birth: ___________________ c. Current address: _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ d. Permanent address: ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ e. If the alleged disabled person is a patient/living at a hospital or an institution: i. Admission date: ________________________________________ ii. Admitted by: __________________________________________ iii. Reason(s) for admission: _________________________________ ________________________________________________________ American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 3. Who is paying the alleged disabled person's expenses and out of what funds? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4. The marital status of the alleged disabled person is: (check one) Single Married Divorced Widowed 5. The names and addresses of any potentially interested party which includes the spouse, any next-of-kin who would be entitled to inherit through the estate of the alleged disabled person if that person died intestate, any person