Maryland Guardianship Annual Report

Getting appointed as guardian is the beginning, not the end. Maryland requires annual reports for as long as the guardianship remains active, and the Trust Clerk's office actively monitors compliance. Missing a deadline can trigger a court review of your fitness as guardian.

What You File and When

The annual reporting deadline is 60 days after the anniversary of your appointment. If you were appointed on March 15, your report is due by May 14 every year.

Two types of guardians file two different reports:

Guardian of the Person files Form CC-GN-013 (Annual Report of Guardian of Disabled Person). This covers the ward's living situation, medical care, daily activities, and overall well-being. You report on where they live, major medical events, changes in condition, and services they're receiving.

Guardian of the Property files Form CC-GN-012 (Fiduciary's Account). This is a financial accounting — all income received, expenses paid, assets managed, and the current balance. Every dollar in and out must be documented. This form is the court's primary tool for detecting financial mismanagement.

If you're guardian of both person and property, you file both reports.

Annual Fiduciary Fees

Property guardians pay an annual fee based on the ward's asset level:

These fees are paid from the ward's estate, not from your personal funds.

How the Trust Clerk Monitors Compliance

Each county's Circuit Court has a Trust Clerk or Trust Office that administers guardianship oversight. Their role includes:

• Tracking filing deadlines for every active guardianship
• Reviewing submitted reports for completeness and red flags
• Generating and mailing blank compliance forms to guardians of record
• Referring cases to the judge when reports are late or raise concerns

Howard County's Trust Office is particularly strict — they enforce the 60-day window tightly and proactively send blank forms ahead of the deadline. Baltimore County routes everything through a dedicated Trust Division with a specialized case manager.

What Happens if You're Late or Don't File

The consequences escalate:

1. Reminder notices. The Trust Clerk sends notices when a report is overdue.
2. Show cause hearing. If the report remains unfiled, the court can issue an order requiring you to appear and explain why.
3. Removal proceedings. Persistent non-compliance can lead to the court removing you as guardian and appointing a replacement.
4. Bond enforcement. For property guardians, failing to account for the ward's assets can prompt action on the surety bond to protect the ward's estate.

Tips for Staying Compliant

Keep records throughout the year instead of reconstructing them at report time. For property guardianship, maintain a dedicated bank account for the ward's funds and keep every receipt. For personal guardianship, note significant events (doctor visits, hospitalizations, changes in living arrangements, service provider changes) as they happen.

Some guardians find it worth paying an attorney $500–$1,500 annually to help prepare the fiduciary account. The cost comes from the ward's estate, and the professional preparation reduces the risk of errors that invite scrutiny.

The Maryland Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a court-filing document tracker that maps every annual obligation to its deadline, along with an agency communication log to help you document throughout the year rather than scrambling at report time.

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