A guardianship is a legal proceeding in the circuit courts of Florida in which a guardian is appointed to represent (protect) the rights of a minor or incapacitated person.
Do I need an attorney to process a guardianship?
Yes. You may want to call the Palm Beach County Bar Association's Attorney Referral Service at (561) 687-3266 or (561) 451-3256 (Boca Raton/Delray Beach, or the Legal Aid Society at (561) 655-8944.
What is an incapacitated person (also called a ward)?
An incapacitated person is a person who has been determined by the court to lack the capacity to manage at least some of their property or to meet at least some of the essential health and safety requirements of that person.
How is a person determined to be incapacitated?
A person petitions the court to determine another person’s incapacity and simultaneously petitions the court to appoint a guardian for that person. The court appoints an attorney to represent the alleged incapacitated person if they do not have private counsel. A committee appointed by the court examines the individual and reports their findings to the court. The court either dismisses the petition or schedules a hearing to determine the partial or total incapacity of the individual.
If the court determines the person to be incapacitated, a guardian is usually appointed for the incapacitated person.
What is a guardian?
A guardian is a person who has been appointed by the court to act on behalf of a ward’s person (Guardian of Person) or property (Guardian of Property), or both (Guardian of Person and Property)
What are some of the responsibilities of a Guardian of a Property?
Managing the property of the incapacitated person, including the following:
Taking inventory of the property
Investing prudentially
Using financial proceeds for the persons’ support
Filing detailed reports with the court
Obtaining court approval for certain financial transactions
What are some of the responsibilities of a Guardian of a Person?
Handing the responsibilities delegated in court for the person, such as:
Providing medical, mental and personal care services
Determining the residential setting best suited to the person
Presenting a detailed plan to the court each year for the care of the incapacitated person
Is a guardianship permanent?
Not if a person partially or fully recovers from the incapacity. The court can reexamine the person and restore some or all of their rights.
What are the filing fees for the various types of guardianship proceedings or related issues?
Can I request copies of everything in a particular guardianship file?
If you are not a party to the case or the attorney of record for a party to the case there are certain documents you would not be able to obtain because Florida law makes them confidential to non-parties. This includes any inventories and accountings filed in the case as well as any document made confidential by court order.
How do I request copies of documents in a guardianship case and how much do the copies cost?
Send a written request for copies specifying the case number, name of the decedent and title of the specific document(s) you want copied, along with the appropriate fee made payable to:
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Palm Beach County
Attention: Guardianship Division
P.O. Box 4667
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
Copies Fees
Copies are $1 per page
Certified copies – an additional fee of $2 per document.
Exemplified copies – an additional fee of $7 per document.
