2011 Indiana Code
TITLE 29. PROBATE
ARTICLE 3. GUARDIANSHIPS AND PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER 9. MATTERS OTHER THAN APPOINTMENT

IC 29-3-9
Chapter 9. Matters Other Than Appointment

IC 29-3-9-1
Delegation of powers; exercise of powers under power of attorney
Sec. 1. (a) By a properly executed power of attorney, a parent of a minor or a guardian (other than a temporary guardian) of a protected person may delegate to another person for:
(1) any period during which the care and custody of the minor or protected person is entrusted to an institution furnishing care, custody, education, or training; or
(2) a period not exceeding twelve (12) months;
any powers regarding support, custody, or property of the minor or protected person, except the power to consent to the marriage or adoption of a protected person who is a minor. A delegation described in this subsection is effective immediately unless otherwise stated in the power of attorney.
(b) A person having a power of attorney executed under subsection (a) has and shall exercise, for the period during which the power is effective, all other authority of the parent or guardian respecting the support, custody, or property of the minor or protected person except any authority expressly excluded in the written instrument delegating the power. However, the parent or guardian remains responsible for any act or omission of the person having the power of attorney with respect to the affairs, property, and person of the minor or protected person as though the power of attorney had never been executed.
(c) Except as otherwise stated in the power of attorney delegating powers under this section, a delegation of powers under this section may be revoked by a written instrument of revocation that:
(1) identifies the power of attorney revoked; and
(2) is signed by the:
(A) parent of a minor; or
(B) guardian of a protected person;
who executed the power of attorney.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.33-1989, SEC.75; P.L.101-2008, SEC.7; P.L.178-2011, SEC.6.

IC 29-3-9-2
Change in physical presence of protected person
Sec. 2. A guardian (other than a temporary guardian), a volunteer advocate for seniors, or a volunteer advocate for incapacitated adults appointed under IC 29-3-8.5 may, with the approval of and under such conditions as may be imposed by the court after notice and hearing, change the physical presence of the protected person to another place in Indiana or to another state if the court finds that such a change is in the best interests of the protected person. Upon such a change, the guardianship may be limited or terminated by the court.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.41-2004, SEC.3; P.L.11-2006, SEC.11.
IC 29-3-9-3
Compensation and reimbursement of guardian
Sec. 3. A guardian is entitled to reasonable compensation for services as guardian and to reimbursement for reasonable expenditures made in good faith on behalf of the protected person.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1.

IC 29-3-9-4
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.6-2010, SEC.40.)

IC 29-3-9-4.5
Estate planning
Sec. 4.5. (a) After notice to interested persons and upon authorization of the court, a guardian may, if the protected person has been found by the court to lack testamentary capacity, do any of the following:
(1) Make gifts.
(2) Exercise any power with respect to transfer on death or payable on death transfers that is described in IC 30-5-5-7.5.
(3) Convey, release, or disclaim contingent and expectant interests in property, including marital property rights and any right of survivorship incident to joint tenancy or tenancy by the entireties.
(4) Exercise or release a power of appointment.
(5) Create a revocable or irrevocable trust of all or part of the property of the estate, including a trust that extends beyond the duration of the guardianship.
(6) Revoke or amend a trust that is revocable by the protected person.
(7) Exercise rights to elect options and change beneficiaries under insurance policies, retirement plans, and annuities.
(8) Surrender an insurance policy or annuity for its cash value.
(9) Exercise any right to an elective share in the estate of the protected person's deceased spouse.
(10) Renounce or disclaim any interest by testate or intestate succession or by transfer inter vivos.
(b) Before approving a guardian's exercise of a power listed in subsection (a), the court shall consider primarily the decision that the protected person would have made, to the extent that the decision of the protected person can be ascertained. If the protected person has a will, the protected person's distribution of assets under the will is prima facie evidence of the protected person's intent. The court shall also consider:
(1) the financial needs of the protected person and the needs of individuals who are dependent on the protected person for support;
(2) the interests of creditors;
(3) the possible reduction of income taxes, estate taxes, inheritance taxes, or other federal, state, or local tax liabilities; (4) the eligibility of the protected person for governmental assistance;
(5) the protected person's previous pattern of giving or level of support;
(6) the protected person's existing estate plan, if any;
(7) the protected person's life expectancy and the probability that the guardianship will terminate before the protected person's death; and
(8) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(c) A guardian may examine and receive, at the expense of the guardian, copies of the following documents of the protected person:
(1) A will.
(2) A trust.
(3) A power of attorney.
(4) A health care appointment.
(5) Any other estate planning document.
As added by P.L.6-2010, SEC.12.

IC 29-3-9-5
Inventory of guardianship property
Sec. 5. (a) Within ninety (90) days after appointment, a guardian (other than a temporary guardian) shall file with the court a complete inventory of the property subject to the guardian's control together with an oath or affirmation that the inventory is believed to be complete and accurate as far as information permits. A temporary guardian shall file the inventory and oath or affirmation with the court within thirty (30) days after appointment. The inventory must conform to the requirements of IC 29-1-12-1. The guardian shall provide a copy of the inventory to the protected person if the protected person is at least fourteen (14) years of age. A copy also shall be provided to any guardian, parent, or person with whom the protected person resides and any other person ordered by the court. In addition, the guardian shall provide notice of the filing of the inventory to each person that was required to be notified of the hearing on the petition to establish the guardianship. The notice must be provided in the same manner as the notice of the hearing to establish a guardianship. The notice must include all of the following:
(1) The cause number.
(2) A statement that Indiana law requires a guardian to file with the court a written verified account of the guardian's administration:
(A) at least biennially, not more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary date of the guardian's appointment; and
(B) not more than thirty (30) days after the termination of the appointment.
(3) A statement that the inventory and the written verified accounts may be inspected at the court's address.
(b) The guardian shall keep suitable records of the guardian's administration and exhibit the records as ordered by the court. As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.265-1995, SEC.1.

IC 29-3-9-6
Account of administration; filing with court; notice of hearing on account; order of discharge; limitation of actions against sureties
Sec. 6. (a) Unless otherwise directed by the court, a guardian (other than a temporary guardian) shall file with the court:
(1) at least biennially, not more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary date of the guardian's appointment; and
(2) not more than thirty (30) days after the termination of the appointment;
a written verified account of the guardian's administration.
(b) A temporary guardian shall file with the court, within thirty (30) days after the termination of the temporary guardian's appointment, and otherwise as ordered by the court, a written verified account of the temporary guardian's administration.
(c) A written verified account required under this section must include the incapacitated person's or minor's current residence and a description of the condition and circumstances of the incapacitated person or minor.
(d) Notice of the hearing of each account of a guardianship shall be given, unless waived, to the following:
(1) The protected person.
(2) In the case of a protected person who has died, the personal representative of the estate of the protected person, if any.
(3) Any other persons that the court directs.
(e) When an account other than an account in final settlement is filed, the court may approve the same ex parte, but the account may be reviewed by the court at any subsequent time and does not become final until an account in final settlement is approved by the court after notice and hearing.
(f) When notice of hearing has been given under this section, the order of the court approving the intermediate account or the final account is binding upon all persons.
(g) When a guardian files with the court proper receipts or other evidence satisfactory to the court showing that the guardian has delivered to the appropriate persons all the property for which the guardian is accountable as guardian, the court shall enter an order of discharge. The order of discharge operates as a release from the duties of the guardian's office that have not yet terminated and operates as a bar to any suit against the guardian and the guardian's sureties, unless the suit is commenced within one (1) year from the date of the discharge.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.33-1989, SEC.76.

IC 29-3-9-6.5
Accounting standards and procedures
Sec. 6.5. (a) This section applies to an accounting described under

section 6 of this chapter that is filed:
(1) in a court that requires an accounting; and
(2) by a guardian for a protected person:
(A) whose:
(i) annual gross income is not more than one hundred eighty-five percent (185%) of the federal income poverty level as determined annually by the federal Office of Management and Budget under 42 U.S.C. 9902; and
(ii) total assets are worth fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or less; or
(B) who has an annual gross income and total assets of any amount, if the guardian does not have powers concerning the estate of the protected person.
(b) The court shall establish standards for the type of information required to be reported in an accounting described in subsection (a).
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), the accounting described in subsection (a) is not required to be filed by an attorney for the guardian.
(d) The court may order that the guardian hire an attorney to assist the guardian in filing the accounting described in subsection (a) if the court determines that an accounting filed by the guardian does not conform to the standards established by the court under this section.
As added by P.L.265-1995, SEC.2.

IC 29-3-9-7
Compromise of claim; petition to court; settlement
Sec. 7. (a) Whenever it is proposed to compromise any claim by or against a protected person or the protected person's property, the court, on petition of the guardian, may enter an order authorizing the compromise to be made if satisfied that the compromise will be in the best interest of the protected person.
(b) Whenever a minor has a disputed claim against another person, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise, and a guardian for the minor and the minor's property has not been appointed, the parents of the minor may compromise the claim. However, before the compromise is valid, it must be approved by the court upon filing of a petition requesting the court's approval. If the court approves the compromise, it may direct that the settlement be paid in accordance with IC 29-3-3-1. If IC 29-3-3-1 is not applicable, the court shall require that a guardian be appointed and that the settlement be delivered to the guardian upon the terms that the court directs.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1.

IC 29-3-9-8
Supplementary orders
Sec. 8. At any time after the appointment or issuance of a protective order, the court on its own motion or on the petition of the protected person or other person approved by the court, in addition to its authority under IC 29-3-8-8, may give the instructions and make the amendatory and supplementary orders that the court finds

appropriate.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1.

IC 29-3-9-9
Expenses of proceedings
Sec. 9. (a) Whenever a guardian is appointed for an incapacitated person or minor, the guardian shall pay all expenses of the proceeding, including reasonable medical, professional, and attorney's fees, out of the property of the protected person.
(b) The expenses of any other proceeding under this article that results in benefit to the protected person or the protected person's property shall be paid from the protected person's property as approved by the court.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.33-1989, SEC.77.

IC 29-3-9-10
Attorney of record for guardian
Sec. 10. The attorney of record for a guardian continues as such until the termination of the guardianship or the attorney's withdrawal, whichever occurs first, as approved by the court.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1.

IC 29-3-9-11
Investigation and report concerning minor or protected person
Sec. 11. (a) The department of child services shall investigate and report to the court concerning the conditions and circumstances of a minor and the fitness and conduct of the guardian or the proposed guardian whenever ordered to do so by the court.
(b) The office of the secretary of family and social services shall investigate and report to the court concerning the conditions and circumstances of a minor or an alleged incapacitated adult or protected person who is an adult and the fitness and conduct of the guardian or the proposed guardian whenever ordered to do so by the court.
As added by P.L.169-1988, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.33-1989, SEC.78; P.L.2-1992, SEC.794; P.L.4-1993, SEC.261; P.L.5-1993, SEC.274; P.L.145-2006, SEC.169; P.L.146-2008, SEC.531.