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Fees - Must a petition for compensation be served on other parties before it can be filed with the court?

Yes, pursuant to Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 308(c)(4), a petition for compensation may not be filed with the court unless it has been served at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the filing of the petition. The petition shall be accompanied by a certificate of service showing compliance with the requirement.

Fees - What information must the petition for compensation contain?

The petition should describe the services provided, state the amount requested, be supported by a detailed statement of services, the dates provided, and the time that each service took (rounded to no more than a tenth of an hour), and be accompanied by a proposed order with envelopes or mailing labels for every involved party. Refer to Superior Court, Probate Division Rule 308 for specific additional details regarding filing requirements and to Estate of Torchiana, 121 WLR 2477 (Super. Ct. 1993).

Fees - When can fee petitions be filed?

A fee petition for a guardian should be filed no later than 30 days from the anniversary date of the guardian’s appointment. For example, if you were appointed on March 1, the fee petition should be filed every year on or before April 1. The final fee petition should be filed no later than 60 days after termination of the guardianship. A fee petition for a conservator should be filed either with the annual account or at any time before approval of an annual account that has already been filed.

Fees - What steps are followed to obtain payment from the Guardianship Fund?

After a court order authorizing payment from the Guardianship Fund has been issued, payment is made by the General Services Administration. The Budget and Finance Division requires every participant in the Guardianship Fund program to complete a Request to Establish Vendor File. This request form must be mailed or returned by hand to 616 H Street, NW, Suite 600.19, Washington, DC 20001. Faxed copies will not be accepted, and the form must have an original signature or it will not be processed. A Direct Deposit form can be completed at the same time.