Frequently Asked Questions for Guardianships
What is a professional guardian?
Why do I need an attorney?
Why do I need to be investigated?
Where can I get a copy of the Department of Children and Families release form?
When must I be reinvestigated?
What is an initial report?
What are Letters of Guardianship?
What is an annual report?
Am I required to file my reports on certain forms?
Where can I get the court approved forms?
Where can I take the required 8-hour guardianship course?
Where can I take the 40-hour class required to be a professional guardian?
What is a guardian?
A person appointed by the Court to act on behalf of a ward's person or property, or both.
What is a professional guardian?A guardian who receives compensation for more than three wards excluding family members.
Why do I need an attorney?Florida Probate Rule 5.030 requires that every guardian be represented by an attorney admitted to practice law in Florida unless the guardian is an attorney admitted to practice law in Florida.
Why do I need to be investigated?The 6th Judicial Circuit investigates guardians at least once a year as part of the Court's responsibility in ensuring that the best interest of the wards and Florida Statute requirements for professionals are being met.
Where can I get a copy of the Department of Children and Families release form?
This form is available from the Sixth Judicial Court's web site,
www.jud6.org. Hard copies of the forms are also available at the Pasco County Law
Library and the Office of the Clerk & Comptroller, Probate Department in both Dade City
and New Port Richey.
**See below for addresses and telephone numbers**
For non-professional guardians, reinvestigations are due at the time of the filing of your annual report.
For professional guardians, reinvestigations are due annually by January 31st.
What is an initial report?For a guardian of the person, the initial report is the "INITIAL PLAN", which covers the period from the date the Letters of Guardianship were signed to the end of the month following the year in which the Letters of Guardianship were signed.
For a guardian of the property, the initial report is the "VERIFIED INVENTORY".
This INITIAL REPORT is due within 60 days from the date the Letters of Guardianship were signed.
What are Letters of Guardianship?Letters of Guardianship give the guardian the authority to act on behalf of the ward.
What is an annual report?For a guardian of the person, the annual report is the "ANNUAL PLAN", which would cover the person for the forthcoming fiscal year.
For a guardian of the property, the annual report is the "ANNUAL ACCOUNTING", which would cover the period from the date the Letters of Guardianship were signed to the end of the month of the following year in which Letters of Guardianship were signed. Thereafter, the ANNUAL ACCOUNTING would cover the period for the past fiscal year.
This ANNUAL REPORT is due the first day of the fourth month in which Letters of Guardianship were signed.
Am I required to file my reports on certain forms?Yes. Administrative Order 2006-079 PA/PI-CIR directs the guardian to file on court approved forms.
Where can I get the court approved forms?
The forms are available from the Sixth Judicial Court's web site,
www.jud6.org. Hard copies of these forms are also available at the Pasco County Law
Library and the Office of the Clerk & Comptroller, Probate Department in Dade City or
New Port Richey.
**See below for addresses and telephone numbers**
Currently, this course is offered through St. Petersburg College
Where can I take the 48-hour class required to be a professional guardian?Currently, this course is offered through St. Petersburg College. You can also contact Lifelong Learning at (727) 341-4441. When you receive your certificate of completion a copy must be filed in the Clerk & Comptroller's Office.
Department Contact Information
| DADE CITY | NEW PORT RICHEY |
|---|---|
Clerk & Comptroller 38053 Live Oak Avenue Suite 210 Dade City, FL 33523-3894 (352) 521-4506 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday Directions |
Clerk & Comptroller Mailing Address P.O. Box 338 New Port Richey, FL 34656-0338 Physical Location: 7530 Little Road Suite 106 New Port Richey, FL 34654 (727) 847-8186 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday Directions |