Indiana Guardianship Reporting Requirements: Inventory, Biennial Reports, and Accountings

Getting appointed guardian is the halfway point. Once those Letters of Guardianship are in your hand, the court still expects regular proof that you're managing the child's welfare and — if you're guardian of the estate — their money.

Guardianship of the Person: What's Required

If you were appointed guardian of the person only (no estate responsibilities), your ongoing obligations are lighter. You must file a report with the court at least every two years, or as otherwise ordered. The report states the child's residence, current welfare and general condition, whether the need for guardianship still exists, and whether less restrictive alternatives have been considered or implemented.

Either way, you remain under the court's supervision until the guardianship terminates. Notify the court if your address or contact information changes, and follow any other reporting conditions in your order.

Guardianship of the Estate: Inventory Deadlines

When you're appointed guardian of a minor's estate (managing their money, property, or legal settlements), the filing requirements are strict and time-bound.

Under IC 29-3-9, a permanent guardian must file a verified inventory of property subject to the guardian's control within 90 days after appointment. A temporary guardian must file it within 30 days. This includes:

• Bank accounts and their balances
• Real property (land or a home owned by the child, which is rare but happens with inheritance)
• Personal property of significant value
• Legal settlements, trust distributions, or Social Security benefits held for the child

The inventory is a sworn document filed with the court. Missing the applicable deadline can trigger judicial sanctions or a motion to remove you as guardian.

Biennial Accountings

After the initial inventory, permanent guardians of the estate must submit biennial accountings — written, verified accounts at least every two years and no later than 30 days after the appointment anniversary, showing:

• All income received on behalf of the minor (benefits, interest, settlements)
• All expenditures made from the minor's funds, with receipts or records
• Current balances of all accounts
• Any changes to real or personal property holdings

These accountings are filed with the court under IC 29-3-9 and may be reviewed by the judge, a court-appointed reviewer, or an interested party. Sloppy record-keeping or unexplained spending is the fastest way to face a removal petition.

Bonds and Financial Oversight

The court may require you to post a financial bond under IC 29-3-7 to protect the minor's assets. Bond requirements are common when the estate has significant value — think inheritance, a wrongful death settlement, or accumulated Social Security back payments.

If the guardianship involves only the person and no property, bond is routinely waived. But if the judge orders it and you can't obtain a bond, the court may deny the estate portion of your appointment or require alternative security.

Practical Tips for Staying in Compliance

Keep a dedicated folder — physical or digital — for the child's financial records from day one. Track every dollar in and out with dates, amounts, and a brief note on what the expense covered.

Open a separate bank account for the child's funds. Commingling the minor's money with your personal finances is a fiduciary violation and the single most common reason guardians face removal proceedings.

Set your own calendar alerts as well as following court notices. Indiana's Guardianship Registry supports court alerts and reports for past-due inventories and accountings.

When Reporting Ends

Routine reporting ends when the guardianship terminates: when the child turns 18, by court order restoring custody to a parent, or by other termination events under IC 29-3-12-1. A guardian of the estate must still file a final accounting within 30 days after the appointment ends, showing the disposition of all remaining assets. If the child has turned 18, those assets transfer directly to them.

Our Indiana Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide covers post-appointment duties in detail, including compliance tracker worksheets to help you stay organized from your first day as guardian through termination.

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