Michigan Guardianship Annual Reporting: What Guardians Must File Every Year

The Reporting Obligation That Catches Most Guardians Off Guard

Getting appointed as a guardian in Michigan isn't the end of the legal process. It's the beginning of a permanent reporting cycle that continues every year until the guardianship is modified or terminated. Many families who successfully navigate the petition and hearing process don't realize that failing to file annual reports can lead to court sanctions, forced accounting reviews, or — in extreme cases — removal as guardian.

The reporting requirements differ depending on whether you hold a guardianship of the person, a conservatorship of the estate, or both.

Guardian of the Person: Annual Condition Report

If you were appointed under the Mental Health Code as guardian of a person with a developmental disability, you file Form PC 663 — Report of Guardian on Condition of Individual with Developmental Disability. This form asks about the ward's current living situation, health status, social activities, educational or vocational programs, and any changes since the last report.

If you were appointed under EPIC as guardian of a legally incapacitated individual, the equivalent form is PC 634 — Annual Report of Guardian on Condition of Legally Incapacitated Individual. The content is similar but tracks different statutory criteria.

Deadline: Both forms are due within 56 days of the anniversary date of your appointment. That's roughly two months — not a calendar quarter, not 90 days. Mark the exact date. If you were appointed on March 15, your report window closes on May 10.

Conservator of the Estate: Annual Financial Accounting

If the court also appointed you (or someone else) as conservator of the ward's estate, the conservator must file Form PC 584 — Annual Account. This is a detailed financial accounting of all income received, expenditures made, and assets held on behalf of the ward during the reporting period.

The PC 584 is more demanding than the guardian's condition report. You need to document every dollar: SSI payments received, representative payee expenditures, trust distributions, MiABLE account contributions, medical expenses, housing costs. The court reviews this accounting to ensure the ward's funds are being used for their benefit and not being mismanaged or diverted.

Filing fee: Each PC 584 filing carries a $20 fee. This is separate from the original petition filing fee and applies every year.

Common pitfall with Oakland County: Oakland County has county-specific rules requiring in-person accounting reviews for conservator annual reports. If you file in Oakland County, contact the probate court register to confirm the local submission process — mailing in the PC 584 without scheduling the review meeting results in the filing being treated as incomplete.

Proof of Service on Annual Reports

PC 564 is identified in the filing workflow as proof of service for the petition. Before sending an annual report, confirm with the probate court whether annual-report copies or separate proof of service are required.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

If your annual report is late, the court may impose sanctions or require a forced accounting review. Repeated or serious noncompliance can lead to:

• Court-ordered reviews or audits of the guardianship
• Forced accounting review
• Other court sanctions
• Removal as guardian and appointment of a successor

The severity scales with the length and frequency of delays. A report that's two weeks late with a reasonable explanation (a medical emergency, a change of address) is treated differently from a guardian who hasn't filed in three years.

Practical Tips for Staying Current

Set a calendar reminder 30 days before your anniversary date. Gather records throughout the year rather than scrambling at reporting time — keep a running log of medical appointments, program changes, and major expenses. For conservators managing financial accounts, maintain monthly bank statements and receipts in a dedicated folder.

The Michigan Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes an annual reporting calendar template that maps your specific appointment date to filing deadlines and tracks the documentation you need for each year's report.

See more Michigan guides →