Nevada Guardianship Annual Report: What to File and When

The Filing Requirement

A guardian of the person appointed by a Nevada court must file an annual report. This isn't optional — failure to file can result in the court issuing a show-cause order, imposing sanctions, or removing you as guardian.

The annual report is due within 60 days of the anniversary date of your appointment as guardian. If you were appointed on March 15, your report is due by May 14 each year.

Guardians of the person and guardians of the estate have separate reporting obligations. If you hold both roles, you file both.

What the Annual Report Covers

Guardian of the Person (NRS 159.081)

The annual report for a guardian of the person covers the protected person's overall wellbeing across several categories:

• Physical health — current medical conditions, treatments, medications, hospitalizations, and dental care received during the reporting period
• Mental health — behavioral health services, therapy, psychiatric care
• Residential situation — where the protected person lives, whether the placement is appropriate, any changes during the year
• Education and employment — school enrollment, transition services, vocational training, job placement
• Social activities — community participation, relationships, recreational activities
• Personal care — daily living supports, any changes in functional abilities

Guardian of the Estate

If you're guardian of the estate, you must also file a detailed financial accounting of every dollar received and spent on behalf of the protected person during the reporting period. This accounting is subject to formal court review and may require a hearing.

Categories typically include income (SSI, SSDI, Disabled Adult Child benefits, trust distributions), expenditures (housing, food, medical, personal needs), and a current balance sheet of all assets.

The SB 346 Addition: Justifying Continued Guardianship

Since October 1, 2025, Nevada's annual report requirements include a significant new obligation under SB 346: you must explain in writing why less restrictive alternatives to guardianship are not being used.

This means your annual report must address whether the protected person's needs could now be met through supported decision-making agreements (NRS 162C), powers of attorney (NRS 162A), or other less restrictive arrangements — and if not, specifically why those alternatives remain insufficient.

This isn't a rubber-stamp paragraph. Courts are taking the requirement seriously as part of Nevada's broader legislative push toward guardianship as a measure of last resort. Your justification should reference the protected person's current capacity and functional abilities, any changes since the last report, and the specific reasons why alternatives cannot address their ongoing needs.

Practical Tips for Filing

Use the court's templates. Clark County and Washoe County provide their own annual report forms. Using the official templates ensures you address every required section and don't inadvertently omit something.

Track throughout the year. Don't try to reconstruct twelve months of medical visits, expenses, and life changes from memory in the 60 days before the report is due. Keep a running log — even a simple notebook or spreadsheet — of medical appointments, medication changes, living situation updates, and all financial transactions.

Document the alternatives assessment. When drafting your SB 346 justification, be specific. "The protected person still needs guardianship" isn't sufficient. Explain what you've observed about their decision-making capacity, whether you've explored any SDM or POA options, and what specific functional limitations make those alternatives inadequate.

Financial accounting precision. For estate guardians, the court expects dollar-for-dollar accuracy. Keep receipts for every expenditure. Bank statements should reconcile with your reported figures. Discrepancies, even minor ones, can trigger court inquiries.

What Happens If You Don't File

Courts have broad authority to enforce reporting compliance:

• Show-cause orders requiring you to appear in court and explain the delay
• Sanctions including fines
• Removal as guardian and appointment of a successor
• Referral to the guardianship compliance office for investigation

If you're struggling to complete the report on time, contact the court promptly about available extension procedures before the deadline passes.

Can Guardianship Be Ended?

The annual report process occasionally prompts families to ask whether guardianship is still necessary — particularly as a protected person develops skills or when the SB 346 justification becomes harder to write.

Under NRS Chapter 159, a protected person, their attorney, or any interested party can petition the court to modify or terminate the guardianship. If the protected person has gained capacity or if their needs can now be met through less restrictive alternatives, the court can restore their rights.

For comprehensive guidance on guardianship reporting and the full scope of guardian duties in Nevada, our Nevada Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide covers initial filings, annual reporting, and the ongoing obligations guardians must satisfy.

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