Annual Guardianship Report in Pennsylvania

Once a court appoints you as guardian in Pennsylvania, the annual reporting obligation begins — and missing a deadline can trigger a court review of your fitness to serve. Understanding what's required and how the electronic filing system works saves time and avoids unnecessary compliance problems.

What You Must File and When

Pennsylvania requires two types of annual reports, depending on whether you're guardian of the person, guardian of the estate, or both.

Report of the Guardian of the Person (formerly Form G-03): Due within 30 days of each anniversary of your appointment. This report covers the incapacitated person's current living situation, physical and mental health status, social activities, and any significant changes in their condition. You'll describe the services they're receiving, whether their current placement remains appropriate, and any concerns about their well-being.

Report of the Guardian of the Estate (formerly Form G-02): Also due within 30 days of the appointment anniversary. This is a financial accounting — income received, expenditures made on behalf of the individual, current asset balances, and any changes in the estate's value. The court is verifying that funds are being used for the individual's benefit and not mismanaged.

If you're guardian of both person and estate, both reports are due annually.

The Guardianship Tracking System (GTS)

The old paper forms G-02 and G-03 were rescinded by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's December 18, 2024 order. Annual reports are now filed electronically through the statewide Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), accessible through the Unified Judicial System web portal.

Filing through the GTS has two practical advantages. First, it waives the paper-filing fees that counties charge — typically $10 to $25 per report. Second, the system prompts you through each required field, reducing the risk of submitting an incomplete report that the court sends back.

The GTS also integrates data across the state, automatically flagging patterns that might indicate a problem — like a sharp decline in estate assets or a prolonged gap between reports.

The Estate Inventory

Guardians of the estate have an additional obligation at the outset: filing a complete inventory of the incapacitated person's assets within 90 days of appointment. This inventory establishes the baseline against which future annual financial reports are compared.

For transition-aged young adults whose only income is SSI, the inventory is usually straightforward — a bank account near the $2,000 resource limit, possibly a PA ABLE account, and minimal personal property. For individuals with larger estates or special needs trusts, the inventory requires more detailed documentation.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If your annual report is overdue, the Orphans' Court may issue an order to show cause — a formal demand to explain why you haven't filed. Persistent non-compliance can result in the court removing you as guardian and appointing a replacement, potentially a professional guardian at the estate's expense.

If your report is late, contact the clerk's office promptly about the court's procedure for filing it. The obligation is serious and ongoing — for as long as the guardianship remains in effect.

Considering the Long-Term Commitment

The annual reporting requirement is one of the hidden costs of guardianship that families don't always anticipate when filing the initial petition. Less restrictive alternatives — powers of attorney, supported decision-making, representative payee arrangements — carry no ongoing court-reporting obligations.

If you're weighing whether guardianship is the right path, the Pennsylvania Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide helps you evaluate each option's long-term requirements alongside the upfront process.

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