The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to the guardianship of property, primarily changing the frequency of accounting reports that guardians must file. Guardians will now be required to submit quarterly accounting reports instead of annual ones, with specific deadlines set for April 1, July 1, October 1, and January 1 each year. The court is authorized to establish a different quarterly schedule if necessary, and guardians must also mail copies of these quarterly accountings to the ward's next of kin. Additionally, the bill mandates that the first quarterly accounting period must conclude within three months after the issuance of guardianship letters.

Other significant changes 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 stipulates that if a guardian is removed for specific reasons, particularly if they are an attorney, they must be referred to the Department of Law Enforcement for criminal investigation. Furthermore, provisions are made to ensure that guardians who manage property solely in designated depositories can file simplified accountings. 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