The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to guardianship of property, primarily shifting the requirement for guardians to file accounting reports from an annual to a quarterly basis. Specifically, guardians will now be required to submit quarterly accountings by April 1, July 1, October 1, and January 1 each year, with the first quarterly accounting period concluding within three months after the issuance of guardianship letters. Additionally, guardians must mail copies of these quarterly accountings to the ward's next of kin. The court is also given the authority to set a different quarterly schedule if necessary.

Further amendments include the requirement for the court to appoint an appraiser to assess the ward's property, with all related documentation retained in the court file. The bill also mandates that certain guardians be referred to the Department of Law Enforcement for criminal investigation if they are removed for specific reasons, such as misappropriation of assets. Other sections of the law are updated to conform to these changes, ensuring that the guardianship process is more transparent and accountable. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 407 Filed: 744.368, 744.381, 744.444, 744.474, 393.12