Adult Guardianship Periodic Reporting Requirements in Maine

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Plans, inventory and recurring reports

The proposed guardian's care plan and proposed conservator's estate plan accompany the appointment petitions. Under § 5-419(1), a conservator files a revised plan after a significant departure or change in circumstances; the guardian has a parallel duty. Under § 5-420(1), the conservator files a detailed estate inventory, with an oath or affirmation that it is believed complete and accurate, within 90 days after appointment. (§ 5-316(1).)

An adult guardian reports at least annually on the adult's condition and money or property the guardian controls. A conservator reports annually unless the court sets a different interval, and the report contains an accounting. (§§ 5-317(1), 5-423(1)–(2).)

Contents and copies

The guardian's report covers condition, residence, services and supports, visits, the adult's participation in decisions, any facility care plan, future care, the most recent guardian plan and deviations from it, and whether guardianship remains needed. (§ 5-317(1).)

The conservator lists estate property, receipts, payments, debts and distributions, services and deviations from the approved plan. Where feasible, the conservator attaches recent available account and debt statements, masking all but the last four account digits and the adult's Social Security number. (§ 5-423(2).)

The guardian sends a copy of the report and filing notice to the adult and notice recipients within 14 days after filing. A conservator gives the same report-copy notice within 14 days; inventory filing notice has its own 14-day deadline. The adult, a guardian or a person the conservator or court determines may examine conservator records on reasonable request. (§§ 5-317(3), 5-420(2)–(3), 5-423(4).)

What trips people up

The court reviews guardian and conservator reports at least annually. If it has reason to suspect noncompliance, it gives statutory notice and may seek more information, appoint a visitor or consider a change in the appointment. (§§ 5-317(4)–(5), 5-423(5)–(6).)

Older appointments have express exceptions: a guardianship established before September 1, 2019 without an existing annual-report order is subject to that filing requirement only when the court orders it. For a conservatorship established before January 1, 2008, the annual report and accounting requirement likewise begins when ordered. (§§ 5-317(8), 5-423(9).)

Common questions

What happens when a conservator leaves office or the conservatorship ends? A report is due on resignation, removal or termination. (§ 5-423(1).)

Who receives a revised plan? After a significant change, the guardian or conservator gives the adult and statutory or court-designated recipients notice and a copy within 14 days after filing the revised plan. (§§ 5-316(2), 5-419(2).)

Statutes and sources

The rules appear in Maine's guardian plan and report provisions and conservator plan, inventory and report provisions. Accessed October 3, 2026.