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M. BURR KEIM AGENCY · Fiduciary & Probate Bonds · Reviewed November 2026

Guardian and Conservator Bond

A guardian or conservator bond is a probate surety bond required when a court appoints someone to manage the personal or financial affairs of a minor or an incapacitated adult. It protects the protected person’s estate if the fiduciary fails to account for assets or follow the court’s orders.

Apply for This Bond Online How to Apply Questions

At a glance

Product
Guardian and Conservator Bond
Category
Fiduciary & Probate Bonds
Required amount
The court sets the bond amount, generally based on the value of the protected person’s estate and the authority granted to the guardian or conservator. Courts may require annual adjustments as the estate value changes. Confirm the required amount and obligee with the court or register of wills.
Online issue
Instant issue with conditional questions up to $50,000. With conditional questions and acceptable credit, instant issue is available above $50,000 up to $500,000. Underwriting review is required over $500,000. Guardian and conservator bonds for minors require underwriting review.
Term
The bond usually remains in force until the guardianship ends or the court discharges the guardian. Some courts require annual renewal or a new bond as the estate value changes. Follow the court’s order and the register of wills’ instructions.

Who needs a guardian and Conservator Bond?

  • A guardian or conservator appointed by a court to manage the finances of a minor or an incapacitated adult.
  • A proposed guardian whose court requires a fiduciary bond before letters of guardianship are issued.
  • An estate or guardianship representative who needs a bond in a state or county where the court requires one.

Why is a guardian and Conservator Bond required?

Courts appoint guardians and conservators to protect people who cannot manage their own affairs. The bond gives the protected person and the court a recovery source if the fiduciary misappropriates assets, fails to account for them, or otherwise breaches the fiduciary duty.

The court sets the bond amount and approves the form. The bond is not a substitute for the court’s supervision, the guardian’s accountings, or the guardian’s own recordkeeping and legal advice.

How much bond do I need?

The court sets the bond amount, generally based on the value of the protected person’s estate and the authority granted to the guardian or conservator. Courts may require annual adjustments as the estate value changes. Confirm the required amount and obligee with the court or register of wills.

Instant issue with conditional questions up to $50,000. With conditional questions and acceptable credit, instant issue is available above $50,000 up to $500,000. Underwriting review is required over $500,000. Guardian and conservator bonds for minors require underwriting review.

Bond amount is not the premium. The required amount is the maximum the surety could pay under the bond. The premium you pay is a separate charge based on the bond amount, the risk, the term, and your credit. The online application shows the premium before you bind coverage.

How much does a guardian and Conservator Bond cost?

Premium depends on the bond amount, the court and state, the expected duration of the guardianship, and the applicant’s credit. Guardian bonds are typically inexpensive relative to the estate value. Apply online for the current premium and the court’s required form.

How to apply online

  1. Confirm the bond amount and obligee. Use the amount and legal name of the agency, court, client, or government entity that requires the bond. The obligee name must match the requiring party’s records.
  2. Gather the application information. Have the legal business or entity name, address, license or case number, ownership information, and the required bond amount ready.
  3. Start the CNA Surety application. Use the online application link on this page. The link includes the M. BURR KEIM AGENCY app code and agency code, so the application is routed to our agency.
  4. Pay the premium and bind coverage. If the bond is eligible for instant issue, the application will show the premium and let you complete the purchase online. Otherwise, the surety will review the application and contact you if additional information is needed.
  5. File the bond. Provide the issued bond to the agency, court, client, or government entity that requires it, and keep a copy for your records.
Apply for This Bond Online All Bonds

Guardian and Conservator Bond term and renewal

The bond usually remains in force until the guardianship ends or the court discharges the guardian. Some courts require annual renewal or a new bond as the estate value changes. Follow the court’s order and the register of wills’ instructions.

Good to know

  • Minor guardianship bonds require underwriting review, so allow additional time before the court hearing.
  • Have the protected person’s name, court and county, case number, appointed guardian name, and the bond amount from the court order ready before applying.

Guardian and Conservator Bond questions

A guardian or conservator bond is a probate surety bond required when a court appoints someone to manage the personal or financial affairs of a minor or an incapacitated adult. It protects the protected person’s estate if the fiduciary fails to account for assets or follow the court’s orders.

A guardian or conservator appointed by a court to manage the finances of a minor or an incapacitated adult. A proposed guardian whose court requires a fiduciary bond before letters of guardianship are issued. An estate or guardianship representative who needs a bond in a state or county where the court requires one.

Premium depends on the bond amount, the court and state, the expected duration of the guardianship, and the applicant’s credit. Guardian bonds are typically inexpensive relative to the estate value. Apply online for the current premium and the court’s required form.

The court sets the bond amount, generally based on the value of the protected person’s estate and the authority granted to the guardian or conservator. Courts may require annual adjustments as the estate value changes. Confirm the required amount and obligee with the court or register of wills. Instant issue with conditional questions up to $50,000. With conditional questions and acceptable credit, instant issue is available above $50,000 up to $500,000. Underwriting review is required over $500,000. Guardian and conservator bonds for minors require underwriting review.

Apply online through CNA Surety using the application link on this page. The link includes the M. BURR KEIM AGENCY app code and agency code, so the application is routed to our agency. Complete the application, pay the premium online if the bond is eligible for instant issue, and then file the bond with the agency, court, or client that requires it.

The bond usually covers the fiduciary’s handling of the protected person’s money and property, not personal care decisions. The court order and the bond form define the scope. Confirm the required coverage with the court before applying.

Sureties apply additional review to guardianships involving minors because the bond may remain in force for many years and the estate can change significantly. The review helps set an appropriate premium and bond terms. Apply online and allow time for the review before the court hearing.

Online application and important note

Bond requirements, forms, amounts, and fees are set by the requiring agency, court, or carrier and can change. This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current requirement with the agency, court, client, or your attorney before applying. M. BURR KEIM AGENCY is an insurance and surety bond agency; the bond or policy is issued by the carrier named on the document.