Florida Statutes Chapter 744 — GUARDIANSHIP

From the Legislature's 2026 edition, which includes changes effective through January 1, 2027. Later effective dates are retained in each section's source notes.

Title XLIII

• § 744.101 — Short title.
• § 744.1012 — Legislative intent.
• § 744.102 — Definitions.
• § 744.1025 — Additional definitions.
• § 744.104 — Verification of documents.
• § 744.105 — Costs.
• § 744.106 — Notice.
• § 744.107 — Court monitors.
• § 744.1075 — Emergency court monitor.
• § 744.1076 — Court orders appointing court monitors and emergency court monitors; reports of court monitors; orders finding no probable cause; public records exemptions.
• § 744.108 — Guardian and attorney fees and expenses.
• § 744.109 — Records.
• § 744.1095 — Hearings.
• § 744.1096 — Domicile of ward.
• § 744.1097 — Venue.
• § 744.1098 — Change of ward’s residence.
• § 744.2001 — Office of Public and Professional Guardians.
• § 744.2002 — Professional guardian registration.
• § 744.2003 — Regulation of professional guardians; application; bond required; educational requirements.
• § 744.2004 — Complaints; disciplinary proceedings; penalties; enforcement.
• § 744.20041 — Grounds for discipline; penalties; enforcement.
• § 744.2005 — Order of appointment.
• § 744.2006 — Office of Public and Professional Guardians; appointment, notification.
• § 744.2007 — Powers and duties.
• § 744.2008 — Costs of public guardian.
• § 744.2009 — Preparation of budget.
• § 744.2101 — Procedures and rules.
• § 744.2102 — Surety bond.
• § 744.2103 — Reports and standards.
• § 744.21031 — Public records exemption.
• § 744.2104 — Access to records by the Office of Public and Professional Guardians; confidentiality.
• § 744.2105 — Direct-support organization; definition; use of property; board of directors; audit; dissolution.
• § 744.2106 — Joining Forces for Public Guardianship grant program; purpose.
• § 744.2107 — Program administration; duties of the Office of Public and Professional Guardians.
• § 744.2108 — Eligibility.
• § 744.2109 — Grant application requirements; review criteria; awards process.
• § 744.2111 — Confidentiality.
• § 744.2112 — Guardianship information and transparency.
• § 744.301 — Natural guardians.
• § 744.3021 — Guardians of minors.
• § 744.3025 — Claims of minors.
• § 744.3031 — Emergency temporary guardianship.
• § 744.304 — Standby guardianship.
• § 744.3045 — Preneed guardian.
• § 744.3046 — Preneed guardian for minor.
• § 744.306 — Foreign guardians.
• § 744.307 — Foreign guardian may manage the property of nonresident ward.
• § 744.308 — Resident guardian of the property of nonresident ward.
• § 744.3085 — Guardian advocates.
• § 744.309 — Who may be appointed guardian of a resident ward.
• § 744.3115 — Advance directives for health care.
• § 744.312 — Considerations in appointment of guardian.
• § 744.3125 — Application for appointment.
• § 744.3135 — Credit and criminal investigation.
• § 744.3145 — Guardian education requirements.
• § 744.3201 — Petition to determine incapacity.
• § 744.3203 — Suspension of power of attorney before incapacity determination.
• § 744.3215 — Rights of persons determined incapacitated.
• § 744.331 — Procedures to determine incapacity.
• § 744.334 — Petition for appointment of guardian or professional guardian; contents.
• § 744.3371 — Notice of petition for appointment of guardian and hearing.
• § 744.341 — Voluntary guardianship.
• § 744.342 — Minors; guardianship.
• § 744.345 — Letters of guardianship.
• § 744.347 — Oath of guardian.
• § 744.351 — Bond of guardian.
• § 744.354 — Validity of bond.
• § 744.357 — Liability of surety.
• § 744.358 — Liability of a guardian.
• § 744.359 — Abuse, neglect, or exploitation by a guardian.
• § 744.361 — Powers and duties of guardian.
• § 744.362 — Initial guardianship report.
• § 744.363 — Initial guardianship plan.
• § 744.365 — Verified inventory.
• § 744.367 — Duty to file annual guardianship report.
• § 744.3675 — Annual guardianship plan.
• § 744.3678 — Annual accounting.
• § 744.3679 — Simplified accounting procedures in certain cases.
• § 744.368 — Responsibilities of the clerk of the circuit court.
• § 744.3685 — Order requiring guardianship report; contempt.
• § 744.369 — Judicial review of guardianship reports.
• § 744.3701 — Confidentiality.
• § 744.371 — Relief to be granted.
• § 744.3715 — Petition for interim judicial review.
• § 744.372 — Judicial review of guardianships.
• § 744.3725 — Procedure for extraordinary authority.
• § 744.373 — Production of property.
• § 744.3735 — Annual appearance of the guardian.
• § 744.374 — Payments to guardian.
• § 744.381 — Appraisals.
• § 744.384 — Subsequently discovered or acquired property.
• § 744.387 — Settlement of claims.
• § 744.391 — Actions by and against guardian or ward.
• § 744.394 — Suspension of statutes of limitations in favor of guardian.
• § 744.397 — Application of income of property of ward.
• § 744.421 — Petition for support of ward’s dependents.
• § 744.422 — Petition for support for a dependent adult child.
• § 744.441 — Powers of guardian upon court approval.
• § 744.442 — Delegation of authority.
• § 744.4431 — Guardianship power regarding life-prolonging procedures.
• § 744.444 — Power of guardian without court approval.
• § 744.446 — Conflicts of interest; prohibited activities; court approval; breach of fiduciary duty.
• § 744.447 — Petition for authorization to act.
• § 744.451 — Order.
• § 744.454 — Guardian forbidden to borrow or purchase; exceptions.
• § 744.457 — Conveyance of various property rights by guardians of the property.
• § 744.461 — Purchasers and lenders protected.
• § 744.462 — Determination regarding alternatives to guardianship.
• § 744.464 — Restoration to capacity.
• § 744.467 — Resignation of guardian.
• § 744.471 — Appointment of successor.
• § 744.474 — Reasons for removal of guardian.
• § 744.477 — Proceedings for removal of a guardian.
• § 744.511 — Accounting upon removal.
• § 744.514 — Surrender of property upon removal.
• § 744.517 — Proceedings for contempt.
• § 744.521 — Termination of guardianship.
• § 744.524 — Termination of guardianship on change of domicile of resident ward.
• § 744.527 — Final reports and application for discharge; hearing.
• § 744.528 — Discharge of guardian named as personal representative.
• § 744.531 — Order of discharge.
• § 744.534 — Disposition of unclaimed funds held by guardian.
• § 744.602 — Short title; scope of part.
• § 744.604 — Definitions.
• § 744.607 — Secretary of Veterans Affairs as party in interest.
• § 744.609 — Procedure for commitment of veteran to United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.
• § 744.613 — Appointment of guardian for ward authorized.
• § 744.616 — Petition for appointment of guardian.
• § 744.617 — Notice by court of petition filed for appointment of guardian.
• § 744.618 — Persons who may be appointed guardian.
• § 744.619 — Bond of guardian.
• § 744.621 — Inventory of ward’s property; guardian’s failure to file inventory; discharge; forfeiture of commissions.
• § 744.622 — Guardian empowered to receive moneys due ward from the United States Government.
• § 744.624 — Guardian’s application of estate funds for support and maintenance of person other than ward.
• § 744.625 — Petition for support, or support and education, of ward’s dependents; payments of apportioned benefits prohibit contempt action against veteran.
• § 744.626 — Exemption of benefits from claims of creditors.
• § 744.627 — Investment of funds of estate by guardian.
• § 744.631 — Guardian’s petition for authority to sell ward’s real estate; notice by publication; penalties.
• § 744.634 — Guardian’s accounts, filing with court and certification to United States Department of Veterans Affairs; notice and hearing on accounts; failure to account.
• § 744.637 — Certified copies of public records made available.
• § 744.638 — Clerk of the circuit court; fees; duties.
• § 744.639 — Attorney’s fee.
• § 744.641 — Guardian’s compensation; bond premiums.
• § 744.643 — Discharge of guardian of minor or incompetent ward.
• § 744.646 — Final settlement of guardianship; notice required; guardian ad litem fee; papers required by United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
• § 744.649 — Notice of appointment of general guardian; closing of veteran’s guardianship; transfer of responsibilities and penalties to general guardian.
• § 744.652 — Construction and application of part.
• § 744.653 — Annual guardianship report.