Florida Guardianship Law

Florida · Guardianship · §§ 744.101 to 744.534 · 122 sections

Overview

The Florida Guardianship Law governs the appointment and oversight of guardians for people who cannot manage their own affairs, covering both minors and adults placed under guardianship, and addressing matters such as venue, the ward's domicile and residence, notice, hearings, and guardian and attorney fees. It establishes the Office of Public and Professional Guardians, which registers and regulates professional guardians — setting bond, educational, budget, bonding, and reporting requirements, and handling complaints, disciplinary proceedings, and penalties — and provides for public guardians appointed under its authority. The act also creates court monitors and emergency court monitors to investigate a ward's circumstances on the court's behalf, authorizes a direct-support organization and the Joining Forces for Public Guardianship grant program, and sets rules on records, confidentiality, public records exemptions, and guardianship transparency.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.

In the courts

Sections of this act have been cited in 24 court decisions.

Most-cited authority: 771 So. 2d 569 - Poteat v. Guardianship of Poteat

Sections covered

Fla. Stat. § 744.101Short title
Fla. Stat. § 744.1012Legislative intent
Fla. Stat. § 744.102Definitions3 cites
Fla. Stat. § 744.1025Additional definitions
Fla. Stat. § 744.104Verification of documents
Fla. Stat. § 744.105Costs
Fla. Stat. § 744.106Notice
Fla. Stat. § 744.107Court monitors
Fla. Stat. § 744.1075Emergency court monitor
Fla. Stat. § 744.1076Court orders appointing court monitors and emergency court monitors; reports of court monitors; orders finding no probable cause; public records exemptions
Fla. Stat. § 744.108Guardian and attorney fees and expenses
Fla. Stat. § 744.109Records
Fla. Stat. § 744.1095Hearings
Fla. Stat. § 744.1096Domicile of ward
Fla. Stat. § 744.1097Venue
Fla. Stat. § 744.1098Change of ward’s residence
Fla. Stat. § 744.2001Office of Public and Professional Guardians
Fla. Stat. § 744.2002Professional guardian registration
Fla. Stat. § 744.2003Regulation of professional guardians; application; bond required; educational requirements
Fla. Stat. § 744.2004Complaints; disciplinary proceedings; penalties; enforcement
Fla. Stat. § 744.20041Grounds for discipline; penalties; enforcement
Fla. Stat. § 744.2005Order of appointment
Fla. Stat. § 744.2006Office of Public and Professional Guardians; appointment, notification
Fla. Stat. § 744.2007Powers and duties
Fla. Stat. § 744.2008Costs of public guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.2009Preparation of budget
Fla. Stat. § 744.2101Procedures and rules
Fla. Stat. § 744.2102Surety bond
Fla. Stat. § 744.2103Reports and standards
Fla. Stat. § 744.21031Public records exemption
Fla. Stat. § 744.2104Access to records by the Office of Public and Professional Guardians; confidentiality
Fla. Stat. § 744.2105Direct-support organization; definition; use of property; board of directors; audit; dissolution
Fla. Stat. § 744.2106Joining Forces for Public Guardianship grant program; purpose
Fla. Stat. § 744.2107Program administration; duties of the Office of Public and Professional Guardians
Fla. Stat. § 744.2108Eligibility
Fla. Stat. § 744.2109Grant application requirements; review criteria; awards process
Fla. Stat. § 744.2111Confidentiality
Fla. Stat. § 744.2112Guardianship information and transparency
Fla. Stat. § 744.301Natural guardians1 cite
Fla. Stat. § 744.3021Guardians of minors
Fla. Stat. § 744.3025Claims of minors
Fla. Stat. § 744.3031Emergency temporary guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.304Standby guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.3045Preneed guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.3046Preneed guardian for minor
Fla. Stat. § 744.306Foreign guardians
Fla. Stat. § 744.307Foreign guardian may manage the property of nonresident ward
Fla. Stat. § 744.308Resident guardian of the property of nonresident ward
Fla. Stat. § 744.3085Guardian advocates
Fla. Stat. § 744.309Who may be appointed guardian of a resident ward3 cites
Fla. Stat. § 744.3115Advance directives for health care
Fla. Stat. § 744.312Considerations in appointment of guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.3125Application for appointment
Fla. Stat. § 744.3135Credit and criminal investigation
Fla. Stat. § 744.3145Guardian education requirements
Fla. Stat. § 744.3201Petition to determine incapacity
Fla. Stat. § 744.3203Suspension of power of attorney before incapacity determination
Fla. Stat. § 744.3215Rights of persons determined incapacitated4 cites
Fla. Stat. § 744.331Procedures to determine incapacity3 cites
Fla. Stat. § 744.334Petition for appointment of guardian or professional guardian; contents
Fla. Stat. § 744.3371Notice of petition for appointment of guardian and hearing
Fla. Stat. § 744.341Voluntary guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.342Minors; guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.345Letters of guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.347Oath of guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.351Bond of guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.354Validity of bond
Fla. Stat. § 744.357Liability of surety
Fla. Stat. § 744.358Liability of a guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.359Abuse, neglect, or exploitation by a guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.361Powers and duties of guardian1 cite
Fla. Stat. § 744.362Initial guardianship report
Fla. Stat. § 744.363Initial guardianship plan
Fla. Stat. § 744.365Verified inventory
Fla. Stat. § 744.367Duty to file annual guardianship report1 cite
Fla. Stat. § 744.3675Annual guardianship plan
Fla. Stat. § 744.3678Annual accounting
Fla. Stat. § 744.3679Simplified accounting procedures in certain cases
Fla. Stat. § 744.368Responsibilities of the clerk of the circuit court
Fla. Stat. § 744.3685Order requiring guardianship report; contempt
Fla. Stat. § 744.369Judicial review of guardianship reports
Fla. Stat. § 744.3701Confidentiality
Fla. Stat. § 744.371Relief to be granted
Fla. Stat. § 744.3715Petition for interim judicial review
Fla. Stat. § 744.372Judicial review of guardianships
Fla. Stat. § 744.3725Procedure for extraordinary authority1 cite
Fla. Stat. § 744.373Production of property
Fla. Stat. § 744.3735Annual appearance of the guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.374Payments to guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.381Appraisals
Fla. Stat. § 744.384Subsequently discovered or acquired property
Fla. Stat. § 744.387Settlement of claims3 cites
Fla. Stat. § 744.391Actions by and against guardian or ward
Fla. Stat. § 744.394Suspension of statutes of limitations in favor of guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.397Application of income of property of ward
Fla. Stat. § 744.421Petition for support of ward’s dependents
Fla. Stat. § 744.422Petition for support for a dependent adult child
Fla. Stat. § 744.441Powers of guardian upon court approval2 cites
Fla. Stat. § 744.442Delegation of authority
Fla. Stat. § 744.4431Guardianship power regarding life-prolonging procedures
Fla. Stat. § 744.444Power of guardian without court approval1 cite
Fla. Stat. § 744.446Conflicts of interest; prohibited activities; court approval; breach of fiduciary duty
Fla. Stat. § 744.447Petition for authorization to act
Fla. Stat. § 744.451Order
Fla. Stat. § 744.454Guardian forbidden to borrow or purchase; exceptions
Fla. Stat. § 744.457Conveyance of various property rights by guardians of the property
Fla. Stat. § 744.461Purchasers and lenders protected
Fla. Stat. § 744.462Determination regarding alternatives to guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.464Restoration to capacity1 cite
Fla. Stat. § 744.467Resignation of guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.471Appointment of successor
Fla. Stat. § 744.474Reasons for removal of guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.477Proceedings for removal of a guardian
Fla. Stat. § 744.511Accounting upon removal
Fla. Stat. § 744.514Surrender of property upon removal
Fla. Stat. § 744.517Proceedings for contempt
Fla. Stat. § 744.521Termination of guardianship
Fla. Stat. § 744.524Termination of guardianship on change of domicile of resident ward
Fla. Stat. § 744.527Final reports and application for discharge; hearing
Fla. Stat. § 744.528Discharge of guardian named as personal representative
Fla. Stat. § 744.531Order of discharge
Fla. Stat. § 744.534Disposition of unclaimed funds held by guardian

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