This 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 wards' next of kin. Additionally, the bill specifies that the first quarterly accounting period must conclude within three months after the issuance of guardianship letters.

Other 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. Furthermore, it clarifies that guardian advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities may be exempt from filing quarterly accountings if the individual only receives Social Security benefits and the advocate is the representative payee. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1806 Filed: 744.368, 744.381, 744.444, 744.474, 393.12