Joseph “JB” Bensmihen has become president of the Florida State Guardianship Association. The FSGA is approximately 500 members strong and includes guardians, attorneys, care providers, fiduciaries, social workers, nurses, court and clerk staff, and many other disciplines. They have a statewide presence through their 16 chapters and its members meet regularly for education, training ...
Pro Bono & Legal Aid
https://www.floridabar.org/public/probono/
Legal Aid Directories. The Legal Aid in Florida consumer pamphlet lists of all Legal Aid offices around the state.; FFLA (Funding Florida Legal Aid) Legal Aid Programs Listing is a searchable database of legal aid programs along with a description of services and the counties served.; The Legal Services Corporation, the single largest funder of civil legal assistance in the nation, has many ...
Opinion 21-3 - The Florida Bar
https://www.floridabar.org/etopinions/opinion-21-3/
Opinion 21-3 FLORIDA BAR ETHICS OPINION OPINION 21-3 March 23, 2021 Advisory ethics opinions are not binding. The obligations of a lawyer who has been appointed by a court to represent an alleged incapacitated person in a petition for emergency temporary guardianship obligations under the rules may be harmonized with statutory requirements even where the inquirer is unable to communicate with ...
Florida Rules of Court Procedure
https://www.floridabar.org/rules/ctproc/
Florida Rules of Court Procedure. To purchase a print copy of the Florida Rules of Procedure, go to the LexisNexis bookstore. Chapter 1 – Rules of Civil Procedure; updated January 1, 2025. Chapter 2 – Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration; updated January 1, 2025. Chapter 3 – Rules of Criminal Procedure; updated January 1, 2025 ...
Bill creates a statewide guardianship database

https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/bill-creates-a-statewide-guardianship-database/
The Legislature has agreed to create greater transparency in the guardianship process, a top recommendation of the Guardianship Improvement Task Force. The House voted 117-0 on March 10 to grant final legislative approval to HB 1349 by Rep. Linda Chaney, R-St. Petersburg. Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Orange Park, sponsored the companion, SB 1710. Chaney said the...
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) - The Florida Bar
https://www.floridabar.org/member/cle/
The Florida Bar’s continuing legal education program provides quality courses to Bar members. The Bar offers its members about 160 programs each year, presented in multiple formats, providing more than 900 approved credit hours of CLE.
New Appellate Rule for Probate and Guardianship Proceedings

Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.170, titled “Appeal Proceedings in Probate and Guardianship Cases,” took effect on January 1, 2012.1 The new rule gives clarity to the often cloudy issue of when an order in probate or guardianship is or is not appealable. Rule 9.170 provides a nonexclusive list of 24 types of appealable orders in probate and guardianship proceedings.
Consumer Information
https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/
Forms. Living Will Forms: Includes Florida Living Will and Florida Health Care Surrogate.. Landlord/Tenant Forms: Includes Residential Lease and Eviction Notices.. Florida Courts Help. Florida Courts Help is a website to help consumers navigate the court system. The site includes a list of frequently asked questions and forms related to family law, the probate process, guardianship, small ...
Task force hears from court-appointed guardian attorneys, guardians

As it prepares to begin its deliberations, the Guardianship Improvement Task Force has heard from attorneys appointed to represent alleged incapacitated persons (AIPs) in guardianship proceedings and from family and professional guardians. The task force, initiated and supported by the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers, met online September 14 to hear its last testimony before it begins ...
Guardianship training offered

https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/guardianship-training-offered/
G uardianship training offered The Heart of Florida Chapter of the Florida State Guardianship Association will offer guardianship training courses in Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, and Ocala. A 40-hour professional guardian training course will begin September 24 in Ft. Myers and will be held early in 2012 in Jacksonville and Ocala. Four- to eight-hour family guardian, guardian of minor, and ...