IndianaSB 71Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)SenateWALLET

Various probate matters.

Sponsored By: Cyndi Carrasco (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Establishes the guardianship code revision task force (task force) to study a recodification of the current guardianship code with any necessary changes. Allows a person indebted to a minor or having possession of property belonging to a minor to pay the debt or deliver the property without a court order in an amount up to $25,000 and to pay the debt or deliver the property to a custodian under the Indiana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. Specifies that a court may do the following when issuing a protective order: (1) authorize delivery of property to a custodian under the Indiana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act; and (2) order a trustee, custodian, or other person to file periodic reports concerning certain property transactions of a minor. Allows a person having the care and custody of a minor with whom the minor resides to petition a court to compromise a claim on behalf of the minor. Requires a court to hold a hearing on certain petitions concerning a proposal to compromise a claim on behalf of a minor and allows a court to appoint a guardian ad litem, an attorney, or other representative to represent the best interest of the minor in the proceeding. Provides that, under the Indiana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, a trustee or administrator of certain plans may transfer funds due under a plan to the custodian of a minor who is designated as a beneficiary. Allows a custodian to transfer part or all of the minor's custodial property out of the custodial form under the Indiana Uniform Transfers to Minors Act to certain types of trusts or accounts without a court order. Provides that when a power of appointment in a trust (earlier power) is exercised to create another power of appointment (subsequent power) or another nonvested property interest, then the subsequent power or nonvested property interest created through the exercise of the earlier power is considered to have been created at the time of the creation of the earlier power, unless: (1) the instrument creating the earlier power; or (2) the instrument exercising the earlier power; explicitly provides that the subsequent power or nonvested property interest is considered to have been created at the time of the irrevocable exercise of the earlier power. Specifies that language conferring general authority in a power of attorney with respect to personal or family maintenance authorizes an attorney in fact to take certain actions on behalf of the principal for the benefit of the principal and the principal's spouse, children, and other persons customarily supported by the principal. Removes the authorization to employ or contract with servants or companions from the description of health care powers. Provides that the application is only to a lifetime or inter vivos transfer of property to a trust or similar arrangement under which the spouse of the transferor is granted an earlier power that can be exercised during the spouse's lifetime or upon the spouse's death to create a subsequent limited power of appointment or another nonvested property interest. Provides that the exercise of the earlier power or another nonvested property interest is considered to have been created at the time of the creation of the earlier power by the transferor. Specifies that certain written agreements executed between an owner of residential real property and a family member, attorney in fact, health care representative, or guardian that provide for an ownership interest in the residential real property are not prohibited residential real estate service agreements.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Families Can Transfer More Without Guardianship

Beginning July 1, 2026, the limit for transferring a minor’s money or property without appointing a guardian rises from $10,000 to $25,000. The recipient must be a qualifying custodian or someone who both cares for and lives with the minor. The payer must not know of an appointed guardian or pending guardianship case. The recipient must use the property for the minor’s support, use, and benefit.

Agents Can Manage More Family Needs

Beginning July 1, 2026, an agent granted general personal or family maintenance authority can support the principal’s customary living standard. This includes the principal’s spouse, children, and others the principal usually supports. Authorized tasks include housing, utilities, education, medical care, transportation, charge accounts, collecting income, and hiring professionals. The agent can use assets, borrow, or pledge property for permitted maintenance needs, including property outside Indiana. The law does not require anyone to grant this authority.

Courts Get More Family Property Options

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts can place a minor’s or incapacitated person’s property with a custodian without appointing a guardian. The court must find legal grounds for a protective order. When no guardian for the minor and their property is appointed, a parent or live-in caregiver with custody can seek settlement of the minor’s disputed claim. The court must hold a hearing; the settlement request can accompany a protective-order request, with payment through either authorized route. Courts can also order periodic reports on a minor’s property transactions under a protective arrangement; reporting is not automatic.

More Savings Options For Children’s Money

Beginning July 1, 2026, plan trustees or administrators can transfer benefits owed to a minor designated beneficiary into custodial arrangements. This covers retirement, life insurance, and employee profit-sharing or stock-sharing plans, without changing benefit amounts. Custodians can move some or all property without a court order into qualifying 529 education accounts, disability trusts, nonprofit pooled-trust accounts, or ABLE disability savings accounts. The minor must meet the account’s sole- or exclusive-beneficiary requirements and any disability requirements; custodianship ends for the transferred property. Custodians cannot use the minor’s property to meet their own legal duty to support the minor.

Guardianship Review Team Gets Expense Allowances

Beginning July 1, 2026, an 11-member task force studies changes to Indiana’s guardianship code, with Legislative Services Agency staff support. Appointments are due July 30, 2026, and leadership must be named by July 31, 2026. An optional status report is due November 1, 2026; proposed legislation is required by November 1, 2027. Legislative and lay members receive daily, mileage, and travel allowances matching comparable interim study committee members. State employees receive travel allowances but no daily allowance; expenses come from Legislative Council appropriations, and the chapter expires December 31, 2027.

Health Agents Face Narrower Hiring Authority

Beginning July 1, 2026, general health care authority under a power of attorney no longer lists hiring servants or companions. The listed hiring authority covers health care providers caring for the person who granted the power. This change concerns that health care provision, not every possible source of an agent’s authority.

New Timing Rules For Trust Beneficiaries

Beginning July 1, 2026, later powers to choose trust beneficiaries and interests not yet fixed generally date to the earlier power’s creation. Trust documents can instead use the date when the earlier power is irrevocably exercised; a parallel rule covers legacy trusts. For lifetime transfers giving a spouse a limited power, later powers or interests created through it date to the transferor’s earlier power. That spouse rule covers powers usable during life or at death. Separately, qualifying trusts with express, unrestricted trustee power to sell or transfer property can use a 360-year period instead of 90 years.

Homeowners’ Family Upkeep Agreements Are Exempt

Written home-upkeep agreements with listed family members or representatives are exempt from the residential real estate service agreement chapter. Representatives include an agent under a power of attorney, a health care representative, or a guardian. The agreement must provide for payment or provision of maintenance, repairs, costs, or upkeep. It can give that person an interest in the home or secure the interest with a lien. The exemption leaves these arrangements outside that chapter’s rules and protections; it does not require an agreement or payment.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Cyndi Carrasco

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Chris Jeter

    Republican • House

  • Eric Koch

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 279 • No: 2

House vote • 2/27/2026

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House

Yes: 93 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/27/2026

Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 2/16/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 89 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/12/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 48 • No: 0

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (H)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (S)

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