Montana Guardianship Annual Report: Filing Requirements and Deadlines

Getting appointed as a guardian in Montana is only the beginning. The real work starts when the court expects you to document everything you've done for the person in your care — every year, on time, under penalty of perjury.

What the Annual Report Requires

Under Montana probate law, every appointed guardian must file a written report within 30 days of their appointment anniversary. This is not optional, and missing the deadline can trigger a court review of your fitness to serve.

The annual well-being report covers the ward's physical and mental health status, where they live, their social activities, any restrictions on visitation or communication, and what steps you've taken to encourage their independence. Montana law under MCA § 72-5-321 specifically requires guardians to document how they've considered supported decision-making and worked to build the ward's self-reliance.

If you also manage the ward's finances (or if no separate conservator was appointed), you'll submit an annual financial accounting alongside the care report. Montana uses two accounting forms. The Standard Accounting form requires a complete ledger of every transaction — income received, expenses paid, and the net estate value at the end of the reporting period. If the ward's estate holds only cash assets of $50,000 or less and personal property under $2,000, you can file the simplified Small Estate form instead.

The 90-Day Post-Appointment Requirements

Before your first annual report comes due, you have two filings to complete within 90 days of your appointment. First, a formal Care Plan outlining the ward's housing arrangements, medical care, social goals, and how you plan to support their development. Second, an itemized inventory of every asset and liability the ward holds as of your appointment date — bank accounts, investments, real property, vehicles, credit card balances, loans.

These initial filings establish the baseline that every future annual report measures against. Courts take inventory accuracy seriously because it's the primary safeguard against financial mismanagement.

What Happens When You Miss a Filing

Montana district courts monitor guardian compliance. A missed or incomplete report can result in a court order requiring you to appear and explain the lapse. In serious cases, the court can remove you as guardian and appoint a replacement. If financial irregularities surface in your accounting, the court may take action, including removal.

The forms themselves are available through the Montana Courts website at courts.mt.gov/forms/guardianship. If you're unclear about how to complete them, the court clerk's office can direct you to the local Self Help Law Center — though clerks cannot provide legal advice or help you interpret what the forms require.

Keeping Guardian Responsibilities Manageable

Many families find the ongoing reporting burden unexpectedly heavy, particularly in the first year. The most effective approach is to maintain running records throughout the year rather than scrambling to reconstruct twelve months of activity before the deadline. Keep a monthly log of medical appointments, housing changes, and any significant decisions. Save receipts and bank statements in a dedicated folder. Document interactions with service providers like Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services or the Developmental Disabilities Program.

This kind of organized record-keeping also serves a second purpose: if the ward's capacity improves and the family wants to petition for guardianship modification or termination under MCA § 72-5-325, a clean paper trail of increasing independence makes a significantly stronger case.

For families still weighing whether guardianship is the right path, the Montana Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide walks through every reporting obligation alongside the less restrictive alternatives — supported decision-making agreements, powers of attorney, and representative payee arrangements — that carry no court reporting requirements at all.

See more Montana guides →