Indiana Guardianship Inventory and Biennial Accounting Requirements

Two Reporting Obligations Every Indiana Guardian Must Know

Getting appointed as a guardian in Indiana is the beginning of an ongoing legal responsibility, not the end. The court doesn't just grant authority and walk away — it monitors guardians through mandatory reporting deadlines that catch mismanagement, neglect, and fraud. Two reports matter most: the 90-day inventory and the biennial accounting.

Missing either leaves the guardian out of compliance. The statewide electronic Guardianship Registry tracks these deadlines across 89 linked counties and provides alerts and reports that can help the court follow up on past-due items.

The 90-Day Verified Inventory

Under IC § 29-3-9-5, a permanent guardian must file a complete, written, verified inventory of all property subject to the guardianship within 90 days of the appointment date. A temporary guardian has a separate 30-day inventory deadline. "Verified" means the guardian signs the document under penalty of perjury.

The inventory must catalog:

• All bank accounts and their balances (checking, savings, CDs)
• Real property owned by the protected person
• Investment accounts, stocks, and bonds
• Personal property of significant value
• Government benefits (SSI, SSDI, VA benefits) the protected person receives
• Any debts, liens, or encumbrances on the estate

The guardian must provide a copy of this inventory to three groups: the protected person (if they're at least 14 years old), their parents, and anyone else who was required to receive notice of the original guardianship petition.

Watch for local deadlines. Some counties cut this timeline sharply. Hamilton County's local rules require the inventory within 30 days of appointment — not the 90 days the state statute allows. Relying on the state deadline without checking local rules is a common and avoidable mistake.

The Biennial Accounting and Status Report

Under IC § 29-3-9-6, guardians must file a verified Account of Administration at least every two years. The report is due within 30 days after the anniversary of the guardian's appointment — so if you were appointed on March 15, 2025, your first biennial report is due by April 14, 2027.

This report has two components:

The status report covers the protected person's current condition — their physical and mental health, where they live, what services they receive, and whether the guardianship is still necessary. The last part matters: courts want to know if circumstances have changed enough that the guardianship could be modified to a less-restrictive arrangement or terminated entirely.

The financial accounting tracks every dollar. It must detail all income received by the estate during the reporting period, all expenditures made on behalf of the protected person, the current balances of all accounts, and any changes to property or assets. The accounting must be verified — signed under oath.

What Happens If You Miss a Deadline

The Guardianship Registry provides alerts and reports that can help the court follow up on past-due items. If a report is late:

• File promptly. Submit the overdue report and follow any instructions or new deadline from the court
• Check local procedure. Ask the court clerk how the county handles a late filing

The 30-Day Final Accounting

When a guardianship ends — because the protected person dies, their capacity is restored, or the guardianship is terminated by court order — the guardian must file a final verified accounting within 30 days. This accounting covers all transactions from the last biennial report through the termination date.

Practical Tips for Staying Compliant

Keep records from day one. Open a dedicated bank account for the ward's funds. Save every receipt. Document every expenditure with a brief note explaining why it was necessary for the ward's care. Guardians who run ward funds through their personal accounts invite scrutiny and make the accounting process exponentially harder.

Calendar the deadlines immediately. The 90-day permanent-guardian inventory deadline (or 30-day temporary-guardian deadline) and the biennial accounting dates are set from the moment of appointment. Don't wait for the court to remind you — by the time a deficiency notice arrives, you're already late.

Guardians of the person aren't exempt. Even if you're only the guardian of the person (not the estate), you still owe a biennial status report about the ward's condition, placement, and whether the guardianship remains necessary.

The Indiana Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a Guardian Reporting Calendar tool designed to track these deadlines, with the specific forms and content requirements for each filing.

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