Nebraska Guardianship Annual Report — Which Packet to File and When

Annual reporting is the part of guardianship that catches families off guard after the hearing is over. Filing a petition is a one-time event. Filing annual reports is an obligation that continues for the life of the guardianship — and missing one can trigger a show-cause hearing and potential removal.

The Five Reporting Packets

Nebraska uses standardized reporting packets based on the type of appointment and the level of financial control. The Nebraska Judicial Branch publishes these on nebraskajudicial.gov:

Packet A (Form CC 16:2.33) — Guardian with direct control of the ward's assets. Use this if you manage bank accounts, pay bills, and handle the ward's property without a separate conservatorship appointment.

Packet B (Form CC 16:2.34) — Guardian operating under a court-approved budget. The court has set specific spending limits and you operate within them.

Packet C (Form CC 16:2.35) — Conservator managing the ward's estate. This is the financial-only reporting packet for court-appointed conservators.

Packet D (Form CC 16:2.36) — Guardian and conservator managing both the person and the estate. If you hold both appointments, this combined packet covers both sets of obligations.

Packet E (Form CC 16:2.37) — Guardian with no control of the ward's assets. If someone else manages the finances (a separate conservator, or the ward's Social Security funds are managed by an SSA Representative Payee), you file this streamlined report covering only the ward's personal wellbeing.

Most parents of young adults with disabilities who hold a guardianship-only appointment (no conservatorship) will use Packet A if they handle some financial matters, or Packet E if all finances are managed through an SSA Representative Payee arrangement.

What the Report Covers

The annual report requires you to document:

• The ward's current living situation and any changes since the last report
• The ward's physical and mental health, including medications and treatment
• The frequency and nature of your visits and contact with the ward
• Any significant events (hospitalizations, incidents, changes in services)
• A financial accounting of any funds you manage on the ward's behalf

This is not a casual update letter. It is a formal court document filed under oath. Inaccurate or incomplete reports can result in the court demanding additional documentation or scheduling a review hearing.

Filing Fees and Deadlines

Each annual report carries a $5 recording fee under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 33-126.02. The report is due annually; confirm the specific due date with the county court and track it yourself.

The Interested-Party Mailing Requirement

Under Supreme Court Rule § 6-1433, you must mail copies of the annual report to all legally defined "interested persons." This includes:

• Parents of the ward (if you are a non-parent guardian)
• Adult siblings and adult children of the ward
• Any government agency paying benefits on behalf of the ward (SSA, DHHS, VA)

File a Certificate of Mailing with the court to prove you sent these copies. Missing this step is a procedural violation even if the report itself is perfect.

What Happens If You Miss a Report

The county court monitors compliance. A missed annual report can trigger:

1. A written reminder from the court
2. An order to show cause (requiring you to appear and explain the failure)
3. Potential removal as guardian and appointment of a replacement

The court takes missed reports seriously because annual reporting is the primary mechanism for monitoring the ward's welfare and preventing abuse or neglect by the guardian.

Attorney Fee Reporting

If you paid an attorney from the ward's estate during the reporting period, the annual report must include a fee application. Under County Court Rule § 6-1437(C), attorney fees paid from the estate are capped at $1,000 per year without prior court approval. Any amount over $1,000 requires a separate petition to the court before payment.

Self-reimbursement above $500 for guardian expenses also requires court approval. These limits exist to protect the ward's assets from depletion.

Reducing the Reporting Burden

The annual reporting obligation is one of the main practical reasons to consider whether guardianship is truly necessary for your family. A durable power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney provide similar functional authority with no annual court reports, no filing fees, and no interested-party mailing requirements.

The Nebraska guardianship decision framework includes a side-by-side comparison of the ongoing administrative obligations for each legal tool, helping families weigh the tradeoffs before committing to the court process.

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