Indiana Guardianship Registry

What the Indiana Guardianship Registry Actually Does

Indiana operates a statewide electronic guardianship registry administered by the Indiana Supreme Court's Office of Judicial Administration. As of the most recent expansion, 89 of Indiana's 92 counties are linked to the system.

The registry tracks active guardianships in participating counties — guardian names, ward information, court of jurisdiction, and filing status. It's a monitoring tool designed to catch cases where guardians miss reporting deadlines, fail to file biennial accountings, or attempt to serve as guardian in multiple counties without disclosure.

The registry is not a filing portal. You can't download forms from it or submit petitions through it. Its function is oversight, and it only captures cases filed under the GU (standard guardianship) case type designation.

How GU and GM Case Types Work

Indiana probate courts use two case type designations that directly affect whether your family member appears in the public registry:

GU cases are standard guardianship proceedings — permanent, limited, or temporary. Filing under GU triggers automatic inclusion in the guardianship registry. A completed Confidential Guardianship Registry Information Sheet must be filed before the clerk can issue Letters of Guardianship.

GM cases are miscellaneous probate proceedings. These cover single-transaction protective orders under Indiana Code § 29-3-4 — authorizing one contract, establishing a Special Needs Trust, or approving a specific financial transaction — without appointing a permanent guardian. GM filings are not logged into the public-facing registry.

The distinction matters for privacy. A young adult who needs court approval to set up a trust doesn't need to be listed in a statewide database of guardianship wards. Filing under GM accomplishes the legal goal while preserving their record.

The Confidential Registry Information Sheet

When filing a GU case, the petitioner must include a Confidential Guardianship Registry Information Sheet in the packet. Under Indiana Supreme Court mandates, county clerks are prohibited from issuing Letters of Guardianship without this completed form.

The sheet contains sensitive identifying information about the ward and the appointed guardian. It must be filed with the court using the "Confidential" designation in the electronic filing system to comply with Access to Court Records (ACR) Rule 5. The same confidential treatment applies to the Physician's Report — both documents are excluded from public access.

Failure to properly mark these filings as confidential can result in court sanctions and privacy violations. If you're filing pro se (without an attorney), pay close attention to the filing system's document classification options.

What the Registry Monitors

Once a guardianship is active and logged in the registry, the system tracks two key compliance deadlines:

• 90-day inventory — for a non-temporary guardianship, within 90 days of appointment, the guardian must file a Verified Inventory of Guardianship Property listing all assets under their control (IC § 29-3-9-5)
• Biennial accounting — every two years, the guardian must file a verified Account of Administration detailing the ward's physical and mental condition, residential placement, all financial transactions, and a specific statement on whether the guardianship remains necessary (IC § 29-3-9-6)

The registry flags missed deadlines. Courts use these flags to initiate reviews, and in some counties, persistent noncompliance leads to the guardian's removal and potential appointment of a replacement — including a professional guardian or VASIA volunteer.

Avoiding the Registry Entirely

For many families, the question isn't how to navigate the guardianship registry — it's whether court involvement is necessary at all. Indiana law recognizes several alternatives that don't create a registry entry because they don't involve a court proceeding:

• Supported Decision-Making agreements (IC § 29-3-14) — the adult retains all rights; supporters assist with information gathering
• Durable powers of attorney (IC § 30-5) — voluntary delegation of financial authority
• Health Care Advance Directives (IC § 16-36-7) — appoints a healthcare representative
• Educational Representative appointments (511 IAC 7-43-6) — preserves parental advocacy in school settings

These out-of-court options do not create an entry in the guardianship registry. Costs and timing vary by instrument: SDM is $0–$50; a POA is $0–$500; the Health Care Advance Directive, Educational Representative, and Representative Payee are $0, with the Representative Payee process typically taking 30–90 days. The Indiana Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide walks through each option and helps you determine whether your family's situation actually requires a court filing — or whether a combination of alternatives covers every decision-making domain without one.

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