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PC-7.1, the Account

Rhode Island’s yearly account for a guardian of the estate. Every account is advertised and heard before the judge allows it.

By Fidura staff. Last reviewed .

Who files
A guardian or limited guardian with power over the estate, or a conservator
A guardian of a minor’s estate files it too. §33-15.1-29 (opens in a new tab)
When it’s due
Every year. The statute names no day.
R.I. Gen. Laws §33-15-26(a) (opens in a new tab)
Where
The probate court of the city or town that appointed you
Each city and town has its own. §33-15-3 (opens in a new tab)
The form
Form PC-7.1
The court’s copy (PDF) (opens in a new tab)

You sign it before a notary. Page one reads: “MUST BE ADVERTISED.”

What you need

Work from the inventory or the last account, the year’s bank and brokerage statements, and a record of every payment. The account states its own period, a year at a time unless the court sets dates. §33-14-2(a) (opens in a new tab)

The example follows Bartholomew Sisson, an invented ward whose guardian was appointed 04/14/2025 and qualified 04/28/2025. This is the first account, covering 04/28/2025 to 04/27/2026.

Received, less Paid Out, is the Balance

Page one carries three totals. Schedule A is line 1, the starting estate, plus line 2, the gains and everything else received, listed item by item. Schedule B is what went out. Schedule C is the personal property still in your hands, and it is zero on a final account.

Bartholomew Sisson, invented ward · the first account
Line 1. Personal estate according to inventory$25,468.37
Line 2. Gain on sale and other property received22,237.58
Schedule A (Received)$47,705.95
Schedule B (Paid Out)18,821.75
Schedule C (Balance)$28,884.20

Where the figures came from

Inventory (Schedule A, line 1)
Checking$4,218.37
Savings15,000.00
Mutual fund, 100 shares at $62.506,250.00
Personal estate$25,468.37
Line 2, itemized (Schedule A)
Gain on sale of fund over appraised value$562.40
Pension, $1,312.00 × 1215,744.00
Annuity, $486.25 × 125,835.00
Savings interest96.18
Line 2$22,237.58
Paid out (Schedule B)
Assisted living, $1,450.00 × 12$17,400.00
Pharmacy684.30
Clothing312.45
Tax preparer250.00
Bond premium175.00
Schedule B$18,821.75
On hand (Schedule C)
Checking$13,788.02
Savings15,096.18
Schedule C$28,884.20

The sale

Bartholomew’s inventory carried 100 fund shares at their appraised $62.50 each. His guardian sold all of them for $6,812.40. The shares were already in line 1 at $6,250.00, so only the $562.40 gain goes in line 2’s list. The rest of the proceeds is the same money, moved to checking.

Real estate is different. It is not in line 1, so the whole proceeds of a sale go in line 2. §33-14-2(a) (opens in a new tab)

A sale below the appraised value works the other way. The loss is credited in Schedule B, which lists “payments, charges, losses, and distributions”. §33-14-2(a) (opens in a new tab)

PC-7.2 or your checks

If a Rhode Island attorney represents you, you and the attorney sign the PC-7.2 Certification of Accounting (opens in a new tab) before a notary. You then need not file proof of each payment, though a fee you claim still needs its own support. §33-14-2.2 (opens in a new tab)

Without an attorney, or if the attorney will not sign, you also file copies of the front of every check or other proof of each payment. The court can waive that, or ask for more at any time. §33-14-2(b)–(c) (opens in a new tab)

After you file

The court sets a hearing. Notice runs in a newspaper once a week for two weeks, the first at least 14 days before the hearing. §33-22-11 (opens in a new tab)

The judge allows the account by decree. Once settled, it is final, subject only to correcting an apparent error. §33-14-11 (opens in a new tab)

Your compensation is allowed when the account is settled. Some courts, such as Providence and Pawtucket, want a PC-7.4 fee petition with your hours and a time sheet. §33-15-27 (opens in a new tab)

The final account

The final account is PC-7.1 with Schedule C at zero. No statute sets a day for it. A resignation is accepted only after you account for the estate in your hands. §33-15-18(b) (opens in a new tab)

When a minor turns 18, file PC-2.9B with the final account. The former ward signs it before a notary.

Common mistakes

Waiting for the court to ask

With no day in the statute, the court cites a guardian whose account is missing. Ignore that citation for 30 days without a good excuse and you answer for the full value of the estate you managed, with no compensation. §33-15-26(a) (opens in a new tab)

The wrong starting figure

The first account starts from the inventory’s personal estate. Every later one starts from the last account’s Schedule C.

Skipping a year without asking

The court can excuse an account for a year, but only on your application. §33-15-26(a) (opens in a new tab)

Sources

Also for Rhode Island: PC-3.3, Universal Inventory

We make Fidura, guardianship accounting software built on a reconciled register for each ward. See the product

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