Michigan Guardianship Annual Report: Form PC 634 and Ongoing Obligations

Getting appointed as guardian or conservator for your parent is only the beginning. Michigan probate courts require ongoing reporting to ensure the ward's needs are being met and their assets are properly managed. Miss a deadline, and the court can issue a show-cause order, impose sanctions, or remove you from the appointment.

Here's what's required, when it's due, and how to stay in compliance.

Guardian's Annual Report (Form PC 634)

As guardian, you must file SCAO Form PC 634 — Annual Report of Guardian on Condition of Legally Incapacitated Individual — with the probate court that appointed you.

Deadline: Within 8 weeks of each anniversary of your appointment. If you were appointed on March 15, your annual report is due by May 10 of each year.

What the report covers:

• Physical health: Current medical conditions, medications, hospitalizations, changes in health status since the last report
• Mental status: Cognitive function, behavioral changes, any new diagnoses
• Living arrangement: Where the ward lives (home, assisted living, nursing facility), whether the setting is appropriate, any changes in residence
• Care services: What professional care the ward receives, who provides it, frequency of visits
• Social contacts: The ward's contact with family, friends, and community
• Guardian's assessment: Whether the current level of guardianship remains appropriate or whether modification (expanded, reduced, or terminated) is warranted

The report is a factual account of the ward's condition — not an essay. Courts want specific, measurable information they can compare against prior years to track trends.

Conservator's Annual Accounting (Forms PC 583/PC 584)

If you also serve as conservator, the financial reporting obligations are separate and more detailed.

Form PC 583 (Account of Fiduciary, Short Form) or Form PC 584 (long form) must be filed annually, documenting:

• All income received on behalf of the ward
• All expenditures made from the ward's estate
• Current account balances
• Investment holdings and changes
• Any significant transactions (property sales, large purchases, benefit applications)

Filing fee: $20 per annual accounting.

The conservator must also file a Petition to Allow Account (Form PC 585a) alongside each accounting, requesting the court's approval of the financial management for that period.

The 56-Day Inventory Requirement

Within 56 days of appointment, the conservator must file Form PC 674 — a complete inventory of the ward's assets, including:

• Bank accounts and balances (as of the appointment date)
• Investment accounts and securities
• Real estate holdings with fair market values
• Personal property of significant value
• Income sources (Social Security, pension, rental income)

This inventory establishes the baseline against which all future accountings are measured. Fail to file it, and the court will issue a notice requiring compliance.

Bonding Requirements

Many Michigan probate courts require the conservator to post a surety bond before issuing permanent Letters of Authority. The bond protects the ward's estate — if the conservator mismanages funds, the bonding company pays the claim and pursues the conservator for reimbursement.

Bond amount: Typically set at the value of the ward's liquid assets plus one year of estimated income.

Annual premium: Usually 1–3% of the bond amount, paid from the ward's estate.

Some courts waive the bond for close family members managing modest estates, particularly if all interested parties (other family members) consent. This is at the judge's discretion.

What Happens If You Miss a Deadline

Michigan probate courts actively monitor compliance. If you miss an annual report or accounting deadline:

1. The court sends a written notice to file
2. If you still don't file, the court issues a show-cause order requiring you to appear and explain the failure
3. Continued non-compliance can result in removal as guardian/conservator, appointment of a successor, and potential personal liability for any harm to the ward during the lapse

In contested situations — particularly when siblings dispute the guardian's care decisions or the conservator's spending — the annual reports become the primary evidence. A well-documented, timely report protects you against allegations of neglect or mismanagement.

Handling Sibling Disputes and Contested Guardianship

Family conflict doesn't end when the court appoints a guardian. Common post-appointment disputes include:

• A sibling disagreeing with the guardian's care facility choice
• Allegations that the conservator is spending estate funds improperly
• Requests to remove the guardian and appoint a different family member
• Disputes over the ward's contact with certain family members

Any interested person can file a petition asking the court to review the guardian's or conservator's actions. The court will schedule a hearing, review the annual reports, and potentially order a GAL investigation.

The best defense against post-appointment challenges is meticulous documentation: detailed annual reports, complete financial records, medical records supporting care decisions, and written communication with family members about significant choices.

Practical Tips for Annual Compliance

• Set calendar reminders for 6 weeks after your appointment anniversary to begin preparing the report
• Keep a running log of significant events, medical appointments, and care changes throughout the year
• Save all receipts and bank statements for the conservator's accounting
• File electronically through MiFILE when available — it creates a timestamped record of submission

The Michigan Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit includes annual reporting templates and a guardianship filing worksheet designed to track the information PC 634 and PC 583 require throughout the year, so filing isn't a scramble when the deadline arrives.

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