464-A:43 Costs. –
The costs incurred by the imposition of a guardianship or conservatorship pursuant to the procedures established in this chapter shall be distributed in the following manner:
I. Except in cases in which the petitioner filed the petition in bad faith, the court costs, expenses, and fees for counsel for the proposed ward and any resource person shall be borne by the proposed ward. In cases in which the petitioner acted in bad faith, the petitioner shall bear all such costs, expenses, and fees of the proceeding. The court may allow for payment of the costs, expenses, and fees of counsel for the petitioner from the assets of the ward, provided:
(a) The court has granted the petition to establish the guardianship;
(b) The awarding of costs, expenses, and legal fees from the assets of the ward will not cause undue financial hardship to the ward; and
(c) The costs, expenses, and legal fees incurred are reasonable and were necessary to protect the health, safety, welfare, or other personal; property, or financial interests of the ward or the ward's estate.
II. If the proposed ward is indigent, the costs, expenses, and legal fees for counsel for the proposed ward and any resource person incurred that are related to the petition for guardianship proceeding shall be borne by the state.
III. The costs incurred in the petition for a conservatorship shall be paid by the estate of the conservatee.