Florida: How does HB 5 change guardianship?

On June 10, 2015, Florida Gov Rick Scott signed into law Florida Rep. Nancy Passidomo’s HB 5.  Among the changes the new law makes:

  • Emergency Temporary Guardian (ETG) no longer is favored by the court to be appointed Permanent Guardian
  • Family of a Ward must be notified with 24 hours of an ETG hearing
  • ETG can only become permanent by request of the family or the ward
  • Guardians are required to regularly update the court on the wards condition, especially if the change of condition would restore some of the ward’s rights
  • Guardianship can no longer suspend Power of Attorney (POA)

View this clip from WWSB, MySunCoast.com ABC-TV news affiliate in Sarasota, FL for more details on the important changes that effect all families in Florida.  At AAAPG, we hope this ground-breaking legislation, which contains nothing but modest, common-sense reforms governing for-profit, professional guardians, becomes a national model of reform legislation.