Tennessee Annual Guardianship Report and Accounting Requirements

Post-Order Duties Most Guardians Do Not Expect

Getting the judge to sign the guardianship order is a milestone, but it is not the finish line. Tennessee law imposes ongoing obligations on guardians — particularly those managing a child's property — that continue for years after the order is entered.

Understanding these requirements before you file helps you decide whether a person-only guardianship (which carries lighter duties) or a combined person-and-property guardianship is right for your situation.

The 60-Day Inventory

If appointed guardian of a minor child's property, you must file an initial inventory with the probate court clerk within 60 days of your appointment. This inventory lists every asset under your control: bank accounts, investment accounts, real property, personal injury settlement funds, life insurance proceeds, and any other financial holdings belonging to the child.

The inventory establishes the baseline. Every future accounting is measured against it.

Accounting Deadlines

After the initial inventory, the first sworn accounting is due within 30 days after the six-month anniversary of appointment. After that, a sworn accounting is due within 60 days after each accounting anniversary or other selected accounting-period end; no accounting period may exceed 12 months. Each accounting must detail every expenditure made on the child's behalf, every income item received, and every bank statement for the period. Financial vouchers — receipts, invoices, cancelled checks — back up each line item.

The court reviews these accountings to confirm the guardian is managing the child's money prudently. Incomplete or missing accountings can trigger a court inquiry, and in serious cases, removal of the guardian.

Bond Premium Payments

If the court required a surety bond at the time of appointment, you must pay annual premiums to maintain it. Letting the bond lapse creates a compliance problem: the court may order you to appear and explain, and continued failure to maintain the bond can be grounds for removal.

Address Change Notices

Guardians are required to file written notice with the court clerk within 10 to 30 days of any change in their physical address or the child's physical address. This applies to person-only guardians as well, not just property guardians.

T.C.A. § 36-6-108 is a parental-relocation rule. After a permanent parenting plan or final custody order, a parent who spends intervals of time with a child must send registered or certified mail notice at least 60 days before moving outside Tennessee or more than 50 miles from the other parent, unless the court excuses notice for exigent circumstances. This statute does not set a general relocation deadline for guardians.

Person-Only Guardians Have Lighter Duties

Most grandparents raising a grandchild hold guardianship of the person only. That means no inventory, no annual financial accounting, and no bond. Your ongoing duties are to maintain the child's welfare, notify the court of address changes, and comply with any specific conditions in your order.

That lighter burden is one reason many relatives file for person-only guardianship in Juvenile Court even when it means a separate proceeding would be needed if property matters arise later.

What Happens If You Miss a Filing

Courts take missed accountings seriously. The clerk's office may send a notice, or the judge may schedule a show-cause hearing. If you miss multiple filings, the court can appoint a replacement guardian and require you to account for every dollar from the date of your appointment.

If you are falling behind, file what you have and explain the delay rather than ignoring the deadline. Courts are generally more forgiving of a late filing than a missing one.

Staying Organized from the Start

The Tennessee Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide includes a post-order compliance checklist that tracks inventory deadlines, accounting due dates, address change notices, and bond renewal dates so nothing slips through the cracks.

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