Rule 9.160.Form of Accountings

An accounting tells the court what came in, what went out, and what is left. This rule sets a statewide format so a fiduciary is not relearning the layout in each judicial district. An accounting substantially in the form published on the Oregon courts website must be accepted by all judicial districts, and a district may make that format mandatory by supplementary local rule, with SLR 9.161 reserved for the purpose. A local rule cannot waive the statutory accounting requirements.

The accounting opens with preliminary information: the first and last date of the accounting period, the beginning balance, and the state of the bond. For an annual accounting, the last day of the period falls within 30 days of the anniversary of appointment. A first accounting begins where the inventory ended, and every later one begins where the previous accounting closed. If no bond is required, give the date of the order waiving it or the statute exempting the fiduciary. If a bond is required, state the current total. Then work through the total value of assets, the income estimated for the next period, their sum, the restricted portion with the dates of the restricting orders, the unrestricted remainder, and any requested change in bond or restrictions. Where appropriate, explain any difference between the bond requested and the amount that should be bonded.

Next comes the asset schedule, a separate summary of all property owned at any time during the period. It runs in at least five columns: a description, the beginning value, the value of a later-acquired asset, the value at disposition, and the current value, with the second through fifth columns totaled at the bottom. The descriptions carry the detail, including dates of acquisition or disposal, the date and title of any order restricting an asset, and a cross-reference to the receipts and disbursements for any depository account. Household goods and personal belongings may go on one line, side margins may be one-half inch, and type may be as small as 10-point so the columns fit.

The rest is money movement and the story behind it. For each depository account, list receipts in chronological order and disbursements in chronological order, with the date and value of each transaction and a total at the end of each list. Show the source and purpose of each receipt, starting with the beginning balance, and the payee and purpose of each disbursement, with names that match the instrument. Label transfers between accounts, document a sale of real property with the closing statement from escrow or third-party proof, and reconcile any difference between the closing balance in the accounting and the one on the filed depository statement. The narrative then explains what the figures do not show, such as a corrected value, an omitted asset, a closed account, a stock split, or a significant change in living expenses. A trust company acting as fiduciary may use lighter versions of the asset schedule and the transaction lists, and the court may allow other forms of accounting in its discretion.