DUTIES OF A GUARDIAN
As the legal guardian of an individual in Florida, there are many responsibilities and duties to carry out. To start, the guardian must file two initial reports with the court within sixty days of their appointment, a Plan [of Care] and a Verified Inventory [of the Assets].

The Initial Plan is a listing of services you plan to obtain and render to the ward. It includes a statement of where you plan to have the ward reside, how often you plan to visit and a description of the ward's current abilities.

The Verified Inventory is a listing of all the ward's assets as well as an itemization of all regular income to be received. The inventory is verified with supporting documentation such as bank and brokerage statements, statements of property value, and appraisals of personal property.

The guardian must also file annual reports, which are due no later than three months after the end of the guardianship's fiscal or calendar year.

The Annual Plan is an update to the Initial Plan. The annual guardianship plan must be accompanied by a written mental and medical evaluation from the ward's physician. It must also state whether the ward is eligible to have any rights restored.

The Annual Accounting itemizes all receipts and disbursements, as well as any increase or decrease in the value of the retained assets which occurred over the previous year. This accounting has to balance to the penny and supporting documentation such as canceled checks, paid invoices and receipts must be available should the court request an audit.

All of these reports are signed under penalty of perjury by the guardian, reviewed by the attorney for the guardianship and then audited by the circuit court.

This list of required reports is simply the beginning of the guardian's responsibilities. In addition to these reports, the guardian of person must regularly visit the ward, assessing the need for a change in the person's residence, medical and personal care. The guardian must also evaluate the need for social and recreational services and any rehabilitation necessary to increase the ward's ability for self-determination.

The guardian of property must seek out the appropriate knowledge or professional advice to determine the best investments for the ward's cash and intangible assets. The guardian of property must also regularly check on any real property, assuring the appropriate repairs and maintenance are fulfilled.

This may seem like a lot, but truthfully, it is only the tip of the iceberg. Each guardianship has its own distinctive needs and demands, since every guardianship is as special as the individual it protects. CareSource strives to render this personalized service while assuring that all facets of the guardianship's needs are addressed as dictated by Florida law.

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