Guardianship Annual Report Indiana

The Reporting Obligation Most Guardians Don't See Coming

You went through months of paperwork, physician evaluations, court hearings, and attorney fees to become your parent's legal guardian. The court issued Letters of Guardianship, you posted the bond, you filed the initial inventory. Now the acute crisis is over and daily caregiving takes over your attention. Two years later, a notice arrives from the probate court: your biennial report is due.

Indiana doesn't appoint guardians and walk away. Under IC § 29-3-9-6, every court-appointed guardian must file periodic reports demonstrating that the ward is being properly cared for and their assets properly managed. The court calls these "biennial" reports — they're due at least every two years, with county-specific forms and procedures.

Missing the deadline has real consequences. The court can issue a show-cause order, suspend your authority, remove you as guardian, or refer the matter for investigation by the county's guardianship monitoring program.

Two Types of Reports

Indiana distinguishes between guardianship of the person and guardianship of the estate, and each has its own reporting requirements.

Guardianship of the Person Report

If you were appointed guardian of your parent's person, you must file a written report covering the ward's current status. The report must address:

• Physical placement: Where your parent is living — their own home, your home, an assisted living facility, a nursing home — and whether the placement has changed since the last report
• Health status: Current medical conditions, recent hospitalizations, and any significant changes in physical or cognitive health
• Medical care: Physicians, specialists, and therapists involved in your parent's care, along with the general nature of treatment
• Services received: Any in-home care, adult day services, therapy, or community-based services the ward receives
• Social engagement: Whether your parent has contact with family, friends, or community activities
• Guardian's assessment: Your evaluation of whether the current care arrangement continues to meet your parent's needs, and whether you're recommending any changes

The report isn't a medical chart. Courts want to see that you're actively involved in your parent's care and making informed decisions about their welfare. A one-paragraph response to each category, written in plain language, is typically sufficient.

Biennial Financial Accounting (Guardianship of the Estate)

The estate accounting is more demanding. Under IC § 29-3-9-6, guardians of the estate must file a verified accounting within 30 days of the biennial anniversary of their appointment. The accounting must follow the three-schedule format required by IC § 29-1-16-4:

Schedule I — Property Chargeable to the Guardian List everything you started with (the beginning balance from the initial inventory or the last accounting) plus all income and receipts during the reporting period. This includes Social Security payments, pension income, investment dividends, rental income, insurance proceeds, and any other funds received on behalf of the ward.

Schedule II — Payments and Disbursements Every dollar you spent on your parent's behalf during the period: nursing home or assisted living fees, medical expenses, prescription costs, insurance premiums, utility bills, property taxes, home maintenance, clothing, personal items, guardian bond premiums, attorney fees approved by the court, and any other expenditures. Each entry needs a date, payee, amount, and purpose.

Schedule III — Property Currently Held A snapshot of the estate as of the accounting date: bank account balances, investment account values, real property, personal property, and any other assets under your control as guardian.

The math must reconcile: Schedule I minus Schedule II should equal Schedule III. If it doesn't, the court will ask questions.

County-Specific Requirements

While the three-schedule format is statewide, local courts add their own layers:

Marion County requires guardians to use specific county-approved forms and charges audit fees for reviewing biennial and final accountings. The probate division (Court D08) enforces strict formatting requirements and may reject accountings that don't conform to Local Rule LR49.

Hamilton County publishes its own probate rules with specific inventory sheets and reporting templates available through the Clerk's office.

Allen County has distinct formatting expectations and charges its own audit fees for financial accountings.

Before filing, check your county's local probate rules. The clerk's office can usually tell you which forms to use and what the local filing fee is for the accounting review. Some counties also require you to attach supporting documentation — bank statements, receipts over a certain dollar amount, medical bills — directly to the accounting.

Deadlines and What Happens When You Miss Them

The statutory deadline for the estate accounting is straightforward: every two years, within 30 days of the anniversary of your appointment. A person report is due at least every two years, but use your court's form or order for its specific due date. If you were appointed on March 15, 2024, your first biennial accounting is due by April 14, 2026; confirm the person report deadline with the court.

If you miss the deadline:

1. The court sends a written notice directing you to file within a specified period (often 30 days)
2. If you still don't file, the court issues a show-cause order requiring you to appear and explain the delay
3. Continued noncompliance can result in removal as guardian, forfeiture of the surety bond, or appointment of a successor guardian at the current guardian's expense

Some county courts have guardianship monitoring programs that proactively track filing deadlines and follow up with guardians before they fall behind. Marion County's guardianship oversight is particularly active.

Practical Tips for Staying Compliant

Start tracking on day one. Open a dedicated spreadsheet or ledger the day you're appointed. Record every transaction with the date, amount, payee, and category. Reconcile monthly against bank statements. Trying to reconstruct two years of financial activity from old bank statements the week before a filing deadline is a nightmare.

Keep every receipt. Even for small purchases — toiletries, clothing, personal items. If the court audits the accounting, receipts are your evidence.

Separate the ward's finances completely. The ward's income should flow into a dedicated bank account titled in the guardianship's name. Never commingle the ward's funds with your personal accounts. This is the single most common reason courts remove guardians.

Calendar the deadline. Set a reminder 90 days before the biennial anniversary so you have time to gather bank statements, reconcile records, and prepare the filing without a rush.

Consider professional help. If the estate is complex — multiple investment accounts, rental property, tax filings — hiring an accountant or professional fiduciary to prepare the accounting is a legitimate estate expense. Fees for this preparation can be paid from the ward's estate with court approval.

The Final Accounting

When the guardianship ends — through the ward's death, restoration of capacity, or court order — a final verified accounting must be filed within 30 days. This covers the period from the last biennial accounting to the date of termination and follows the same three-schedule format.

For guardianships that end with the ward's death, the final accounting must be filed before the estate can be distributed to heirs. The court reviews it for any irregularities or unexplained shortfalls in the estate's value.

Our Indiana Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit includes a guardianship cost estimator worksheet and step-by-step guidance for meeting Indiana's filing requirements. If you're considering guardianship for a parent, understanding the full scope of ongoing obligations — not just the initial petition — is essential for making an informed decision about the commitment involved.

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