Tennessee Conservator Annual Report and Accounting Requirements

The Obligations That Start After the Court Says Yes

Getting a conservatorship granted is not the finish line — it's the starting gun for an ongoing set of court-mandated obligations. Tennessee imposes strict reporting requirements on conservators, and failing to meet them can result in citations, fines, removal from your appointment, and even contempt of court. Many families are blindsided by this because no one told them during the petition process how much ongoing work a conservatorship requires.

Two Separate Reports, Two Different Purposes

Tennessee law requires conservators to file two distinct types of reports, and the distinction matters:

The Annual Status Report describes the respondent's current condition: their physical health, mental status, living arrangement, social activities, and overall wellbeing. This report is focused on the person, not the money. It gives the court a window into whether the conservator is actually caring for the respondent appropriately and whether the current level of conservatorship is still necessary.

Under T.C.A. § 34-1-111, the annual status report cannot be waived by a judge. Even if the conservator petitions the court for reduced reporting requirements, the status report is mandatory every year.

The Financial Accounting details every dollar received, spent, invested, or distributed on behalf of the respondent. Income from all sources (SSI, DAC benefits, trust distributions, employment earnings), expenditures by category (housing, medical, personal items, transportation), and the current balance of all accounts must be documented with receipts or bank statements.

The base statutory interval for financial accountings under Tennessee law is at least once every three years. However — and this is critical — local court rules frequently override this minimum. Davidson County's probate court, for example, mandates annual financial accountings. Many Tennessee chancery courts also require annual or biennial filings regardless of the statutory minimum. Check with your county's Clerk and Master office to confirm your specific local deadline.

Filing Deadlines

The annual status report is due within 60 days of the anniversary of the conservator's appointment. If you were appointed on March 15, 2026, your first status report is due by May 14, 2027.

Financial accounting deadlines vary by county. The court order appointing you as conservator typically specifies the reporting interval. If it doesn't, contact the Clerk and Master's office to ask what the local rule requires.

The 90-day inventory rule is separate but related: within 90 days of your initial appointment, you must file a comprehensive inventory of all the respondent's real and personal property, bank accounts, investments, and income sources. Missing this initial deadline is one of the most common early mistakes.

What Goes in the Status Report

The court expects specific, concrete information — not a general statement that things are fine. A well-prepared status report typically covers:

• Physical health: Current medical conditions, recent hospitalizations, medications, and the names of treating physicians
• Mental/cognitive status: Any changes in cognitive function, behavioral concerns, or psychiatric treatment
• Living arrangement: Where the respondent lives, who else is in the household, and whether the arrangement is appropriate for their needs
• Day program and employment: Participation in day programs, supported employment, sheltered workshops, or vocational training
• Social activities: Community involvement, visits from family and friends, religious participation
• Conservator's assessment: Whether the current conservatorship arrangement is still necessary, and whether any rights should be restored to the respondent

That last item matters. Tennessee law under T.C.A. § 34-3-108 contemplates that conservatorships can be modified or terminated when circumstances change. The annual status report is the mechanism by which the court monitors whether modification is appropriate.

What Goes in the Financial Accounting

The financial accounting is essentially a detailed ledger. You'll need to document:

• Opening balance from the prior period (or the initial inventory for the first accounting)
• All income received: SSI, DAC benefits, trust distributions, ABLE account withdrawals, employment income, interest, dividends
• All expenditures: Categorized by type — housing, food, medical/dental, clothing, personal care, transportation, recreation, insurance premiums
• Receipts or bank statements supporting each category
• Current account balances and investment positions
• Any non-routine expenditures that required prior court approval

Many Tennessee counties provide a standard accounting form through the Clerk and Master's office. Hamilton County, for example, provides a conservatorship reporting template that structures the information in the format the court expects. Ask your Clerk and Master whether a template is available before creating your own format.

Property Management Plan Compliance

If you were appointed conservator over the property, you filed a Property Management Plan at the time of appointment. The PMP outlines expected income, recurring expenses, and how assets will be managed. Your ongoing financial accountings are measured against this plan — significant deviations require explanation and, for non-routine expenditures or property sales, prior court approval.

No real property (land, house, condo) can be sold without a specific court order authorizing the sale. For personal-property sales, follow the PMP and local court rules before acting.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The Clerk and Master's office tracks reporting deadlines and issues citations when reports are overdue. Consequences escalate:

1. Citation to appear: The court clerk sends a formal notice requiring you to explain the delay
2. Court hearing: If you don't respond or file after the citation, the court schedules a hearing on your non-compliance
3. Removal and surcharge: The court can remove you as conservator and appoint a replacement. In financial cases, the court can "surcharge" you — requiring you personally to pay back any funds that were mismanaged or unaccounted for during the gap
4. Contempt of court: In extreme cases, willful non-compliance can result in contempt findings

Beyond legal consequences, persistent reporting failures harm the respondent. The annual review process is the court's only ongoing check on whether the conservator is performing their duties and whether the respondent's rights should be expanded.

Practical Tips for Staying Compliant

Set up a dedicated filing system from day one. A three-ring binder or digital folder organized by reporting period, with sections for medical records, financial receipts, and correspondence, makes annual reporting manageable instead of a scramble.

Use a separate bank account for the respondent's funds — never commingle their money with your personal accounts. This is both a legal requirement and a practical necessity for clean financial accountings.

Keep every receipt. The court expects documentation for every significant expenditure. Digital photos of receipts work as backup, but maintain paper originals when possible.

Calendar your deadlines immediately upon appointment. Set reminders 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days before each filing is due.

The Tennessee Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide includes a post-appointment compliance calendar and accounting worksheet templates designed to keep conservators organized throughout the year, rather than scrambling at deadline time.

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