Adult Guardianship Periodic Reporting Requirements in Wisconsin

At a glance

Requirements one by one

Guardian of the person

Wisconsin Statutes § 54.25(1)(a) requires an annual condition report to the court that ordered the guardianship and to the designated county department. The department develops reporting requirements. The statute requires the ward's location and health condition, recommendations, and a statement about whether the ward lives in the least restrictive environment consistent with the ward's needs. This provision sets an annual interval but no calendar filing date.

Guardian of the estate

Under § 54.60(1), (3), the guardian inventories the ward's income and assets, including marital property interests regardless of title, and files within 60 days after appointment unless the court changes the time. Under § 54.60(4), the court specifies who receives copies, and § 54.60(7) requires an oath verifying completeness.

Wisconsin Statutes § 54.62(1) requires a sworn annual account before April 15 covering the prior calendar year's assets or income held or invested and receipts and expenditures. On the guardian's motion, the court may instead order anniversary-year accounts due within 60 days after each anniversary. Under § 54.62(2), the guardian must produce evidence of securities, depository accounts, and other investments for examination. The small-estate exception in § 54.62(3)(a) and a court waiver can change the ordinary account requirement.

Court oversight

Under § 54.62(5), the court examines accounts and orders appropriate action on an unsatisfactory one. Under § 54.60(8), continued neglect of the inventory may lead to an order to file and assessed costs. Under § 54.62(8), the court may issue a show-cause order for a missing account; further statutory process applies if the guardian still fails to comply.

What trips people up

The estate account ordinarily follows a calendar year and April 15 deadline; the anniversary cycle requires a court order on the guardian's motion. The court names inventory-copy recipients and may name account-copy recipients under § 54.62(1). The person guardian's annual report goes to both the court and county department.

Common questions

What happens when the guardianship ends? Section 54.66(1) requires a prompt final account to the court and the appropriate ward, successor guardian, or deceased ward's estate representative after termination, resignation, removal, or death.

Is a final account always required for a small estate? Under § 54.66(2), a qualifying small-estate guardian instead gives the court a list of assets remaining at termination, unless the court orders a final account.

Can the court request an account sooner? Section 54.62(1) allows the court to order an account for less than a year due within 30 days.

Statutes and sources

• Wis. Stat. § 54.25(1)(a): “Make an annual report on the condition of the ward to the court that ordered the guardianship and to the county department designated under s. 55.02 (2).” Official text, accessed 2026-10-03.
• Wis. Stat. § 54.60(3): “The guardian of the estate shall file the initial inventory within 60 days after appointment, unless the court extends or reduces the time.” Official text, accessed 2026-10-03.
• Wis. Stat. § 54.62(1): “Except as provided in sub. (3) or unless waived by a court, every guardian, including a corporate guardian, shall, prior to April 15 of each year, file an account under oath.” Official text, accessed 2026-10-03.
• Wis. Stat. § 54.66(1): “If a court terminates a guardianship, or a guardian resigns, is removed, or dies, the guardian or the guardian’s personal representative or special administrator shall promptly render a final account to the court.” Official text, accessed 2026-10-03.