Florida Probate Rule 5.696 - GUARDIAN ACCOUNTING | Syfert Law

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Florida Probate Rule 5.696

RULE 5.696. GUARDIAN ACCOUNTING

(a) Applicability. This rule applies to all guardian
accountings required under Chapter 744, Florida Statutes, other
than a simplified accounting permitted under section 744.3679,
Florida Statutes.

(b) Contents. A guardian accounting shall include:

(1) a statement of the starting balance of assets on
hand at the beginning of the accounting period which shall be the
ending balance of the preceding accounting, or if none, the value of
assets on the inventory;

(2) a full and correct account of the receipts and
disbursements of all of the ward’s property over which the guardian
has control since the date of the last accounting or, if none, from
the date of issuance of letters of guardianship;

(3) a schedule of assets at the end of the accounting
period; and

(4) in the case of annual accountings, a copy of the
annual or year-end statement of all of the ward’s cash accounts
from each of the institutions where the cash is deposited.

(c) Accounting Standards. The following standards are
required for the accounting of all transactions occurring on or after
January 1, 2017:

(1) Accountings shall be stated in a manner that is
understandable to persons who are not familiar with practices and
terminology peculiar to the administration of guardianships.
(2) The accounting shall begin with a concise summary
of its purpose and content.

(3) The accounting shall contain sufficient information
disclosing all significant transactions affecting administration
during the accounting period.

(4) The accounting shall contain 2 values in the
schedule of assets at the end of the accounting period, the asset
acquisition value or carrying value, and estimated current value.

(5) Gains and losses incurred during the accounting
period shall be shown separately in the same schedule.

(d) Accounting Format. A model format for an accounting is
attached to this rule as Appendix A.

(e) Verification. All accountings shall be verified by the
guardian filing the accounting.

(f) Substantiating Documents. Unless otherwise ordered
by the court, the guardian need not file the documents
substantiating the guardian accounting. Upon reasonable written
request, the guardian of the property shall make the substantiating
documents available for examination to persons entitled to receive
or inspect the guardian accounting.

(g) Interim Inspection of Records. Upon reasonable
written request and notice, the guardian of the property shall make
all material financial records pertaining to the guardianship
available for inspections to those persons entitled to receive or
inspect the guardian accounting.

Committee Notes

The purpose of this substantial revision is for guardian
accountings to conform to rule 5.346 and the Fiduciary Accounting
Principles and Model Formats and commentaries incorporated into