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FOLLOW-UP BLOG ON NEW FLORIDA GUARDIANSHIP BILL MOVING ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW

This blog titled “ Follow-up on New Florida Guardianship Law Passage” is a follow-up blog regarding the passage of a BILL TO BECOME A new Guardianship Law in the State of Florida. This is the follow-up from the last blog, Florida Senate Passes Guardianship Bill. That blog was posted on March 10, 2020. The Florida House has now approved the Florida Senate Guardianship Bill. The bill is now one step closer to becoming law.   

The Florida Senate Guardianship Bill that passed in the Florida House of Representatives, was passed by unanimous vote. The bill is now headed to Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk. He is expected to sign it; and it will become a new law. It will go into effect July 1, 2020. 

The new law will require guardians to obtain court approval before they could sign a DNR ( Do Not Resuscitate) order on behalf of the Ward. 

Further, it prohibits professional guardians from seeking their own appointments to cases. It also lays out the rules for the court to examine regarding conflicts of interest of professional guardians. 

The law is aimed to protect vulnerable adults and incapacitated persons from being taken advantage of by professional guardians. The law is aimed at helping the most vulnerable people of society get the best care and protect them from harm. 

The law was enacted to correct gaps and loopholes in the current law. The law dealt with the conflict of interests of guardians. It also addressed professional guardians seeking their own appointments despite state law generally requiring a rotation system. 

The new bill involved the Department of Elder Affairs input on the bill along with the input from the Florida State Guardianship Program. The law is designed to protect the incapacitated people of the State of Florida and the vulnerable adults of the State of Florida. 

If you have more questions regarding a Guardianship matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation. You may also visit my website at: https//:www.AnnMarieGildenLaw.com

This article is for informational purposes only; and it does not form an attorney client privilege