Contents of account; retention of receipts or vouchers for all expenditures; proving payment when receipt or voucher is lost.
1. An account made and filed by a guardian of the estate or special guardian who is authorized to manage the ward’s property must include, without limitation, the following information:
(a) The period covered by the account.
(b) All cash receipts and disbursements during the period covered by the account.
(c) All claims filed and the action taken regarding the account.
(d) Any changes in the ward’s property due to sales, exchanges, investments, acquisitions, gifts, mortgages or other transactions which have increased, decreased or altered the ward’s property holdings as reported in the original inventory or the preceding account.
(e) Any other information the guardian considers necessary to show the condition of the affairs of the ward.
2. If the account is for the estates of two or more wards, it must show the interest of each ward in the receipts, disbursements and property.
3. Receipts or vouchers for all expenditures must be retained by the guardian for examination by the court or an interested person. Unless ordered by the court, the guardian is not required to file such receipts or vouchers with the court.
4. On the court’s own motion or on ex parte application by an interested person which demonstrates good cause, the court may:
(a) Order production of the receipts or vouchers that support the account; and
(b) Examine or audit the receipts or vouchers that support the account.
5. If a receipt or voucher is lost or for good reason cannot be produced on settlement of an account, payment may be proved by the oath of at least one competent witness. The guardian must be allowed expenditures if it is proven that:
(a) The receipt or voucher for any disbursement has been lost or destroyed so that it is impossible to obtain a duplicate of the receipt or voucher; and
(b) Expenses were paid in good faith and were valid charges against the estate.
Last modified: February 25, 2006