State Probate Court Jurisdictions
Guardianship (and conservatorship) matters are the subject of state laws. In most states, guardianships of minors and adults are handled in the courts of general trial jurisdiction as a division within the local municipal or county courts. For example, in the District of Columbia, guardianship issues are handled in the superior court – the general jurisdiction trial court in DC. Each superior court in DC has a number of divisions; e.g. criminal, domestic, civil, and probate.
In some states guardianship cases are handled in separate courts, typically called “probate” courts, which also handle matters involving the administration of the estates of deceased persons. They may also handle cases involving the involuntary treatment of persons with mental illnesses and/or addictive diseases or substance abuse. In some states, probate courts handle adoptions, domestic relations cases, and juvenile cases. In addition, in many states, the probate courts may issue marriage licenses, weapons carry licenses, and automobile tags, administer oaths to and approve the bonds of elected county officials, supervise the elections at the county level, etc. In other states, courts in urban areas are organized differently than in rural counties.
The chart below helps explain the courts with guardianship jurisdiction in each state.
Specialized Probate Courts
- Alabama Code of Ala. §12-13-1
- Connecticut Conn. Gen. Stat. §45a-98
- Georgia O.C.G.A. §15-9-30
- Maine 4 M.R.S. §251
- Maryland MD. Estates & Trusts Code Ann. §2-101
- Massachusetts A.L.M. G.L .ch. 215 §3
- Michigan M.C.L. §205.210
- New Hampshire R.S.A. §547.3
- New Mexico N.M. Stat. Ann. §45-1-302
- New York NY CLS SCPA §§201 & 205
- Ohio O.R.C. §2101.01
- Rhode Island R.I. Gen. Laws §§8-9-9
- South Carolina S.C. Code Ann. §§62-1-301 & 302
- Texas (urban areas only) Tex. Prob. Code §4A
- Vermont 4 V.S.A. §272
General Jurisdiction Trial Courts
- Alaska Alaska Stat. § 22.10.020
- Arizona A.R.S. §14-1302
- Arkansas A.C.A. §28-1-104
- California Cal. Prob. Code §§800, 7050
- Colorado C.R.S. §§13-6-103 & 13-9-105
- Delaware 10 Del.C. §341
- District of Columbia D.C. Code §11-921
- Florida Fla. Stat. §26-012
- Hawaii H.R.S. §603-21.6
- Idaho Idaho Code §1-2208
- Illinois Illinois Const., Art.VI §9
- Indiana Burns Ind. Code Ann. §§33-28-1-2 & 33—31-1-10
- Iowa Iowa Code §633
- Kansas K.S.A. §20-301
- Kentucky K.R.S. §24A-120
- Louisiana LA. Constitution Art. V, §16
- Minnesota Minn. Stat §484.011
- Mississippi Miss. Code. Ann §9-5-83
- Missouri §§478.070 & 461.076 R.S. MO
- Montana Mont Code Anno. §3-4-302
- Nebraska R.R.S. Neb §30-2211
- Nevada Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann §132.116§
- New Jersey NJ Stat. §3B:2-2
- North Carolina N.C. Gen. Stat. §47-1
- North Dakota N.D. Cent. Code §30.1-02-02
- Oklahoma 58 Okl. Stat. §1
- Oregon O.R.S. §111.075
- Pennsylvania 42 Pa. C. S. §§912 & 3131
- South Dakota S.D. Codified Laws §§6-6-8 & 29-1-301
- Tennessee Tenn. Code Ann. §§30-1-301, 32-2-101
- Utah Utah Code Ann. §§75-1-302
- Virginia Va. Code Ann. §64-1-75
- Washington Rev. Code Wash. 11.96A-040
- West Virginia W.Va. Code §41-5-4
- Wisconsin Wis. Stat. §§753.03 & §856.01
- Wyoming Wyo. Stat. §2-2-101