que: I know it's going to depend on how much work the attorney puts in and whether it's successful the first time. So I'm just looking for random figures from those who have gone through the experience so that the Mrs. and I can know what to expect should it come to that with one of our ailing kin. I'm inquiring here because the best brightest and most informed frequent this section. If que gets deleted so be it. I'll probably hard copy it.Thank you.|||First, You ought to know that there are two separate aspects to Guardianship: 1. over the Person of the Ward; and 2. over the Estate (property and income) of the Ward. What is involved is evidence from competent medical and psychiatric testimony that the ward is non compos mentis--unable to manage his/her own affairs. Next is evidence of the income and assets of the ward, and who would be best fit to manage them. A Guardian ad Litem (attorney) will be appointed to represent the interests of the putative incompetent, and that is another cost, besides your lawyer and the medical experts. It could run into 3-5 thousand dollars, but if any interested relative contests what's going on, and disputes your claim , then the cost goes up. Most legal matters are battles, lying in wait to become full-fledged wars. But if it is only a matter of something simple, like being a Representative Payee for the Ward's Social Security Retirement or Disability, that costs much less. So, I'd have to know how rich your loved one is ! and....what state or jurisdiction do you all live in?|||Excellent question. I'm actually considering this for someone who is losing his grip on reality. A friend of mine and his sister had their father declared incompetent. He said it cost them $10,000 and was very difficult. Good luck!|||Trick question. No one loves the mentally incompitent.