Florida Statutes 744.444 – Power of guardian without court approval
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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 744.444
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Clerk: means the clerk or deputy clerk of the court. See Florida Statutes 744.102
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Court: means the circuit court. See Florida Statutes 744.102
- Decedent: A deceased person.
- Estate: means the property of a ward subject to administration. See Florida Statutes 744.102
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Guardian: means a person who has been appointed by the court to act on behalf of a ward's person or property, or both. See Florida Statutes 744.102
- Minor: means a person under 18 years of age whose disabilities have not been removed by marriage or otherwise. See Florida Statutes 744.102
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- Property: means both real and personal property or any interest in it and anything that may be the subject of ownership. See Florida Statutes 744.102
- Ward: means a person for whom a guardian has been appointed. See Florida Statutes 744.102
Without obtaining court approval, a plenary guardian of the property, or a limited guardian of the property within the powers granted by the order appointing the guardian or an approved annual or amended guardianship report, may:
(1) Retain assets owned by the ward.
(2) Receive assets from fiduciaries or other sources.
(3) Vote stocks or other securities in person or by general or limited proxy or not vote stocks or other securities.
(4) Insure the assets of the estate against damage, loss, and liability and insure himself or herself against liability as to third persons.
(5) Execute and deliver in his or her name as guardian any instrument necessary or proper to carry out and give effect to this section.
(6) Pay taxes and assessments on the ward’s property.
(7) Pay valid encumbrances against the ward’s property in accordance with their terms, but no prepayment may be made without prior court approval.
(8) Pay reasonable living expenses for the ward, taking into consideration the accustomed standard of living, age, health, and financial condition of the ward. This subsection does not authorize the guardian of a minor to expend funds for the ward’s living expenses if one or both of the ward’s parents are alive.
(9) Elect to dissent from a will under s. 732.2125(2), seek approval to make an election in accordance with s. 732.401, or assert any other right or choice available to a surviving spouse in the administration of a decedent‘s estate.
(10) Deposit or invest liquid assets of the estate, including moneys received from the sale of other assets, in federally insured interest-bearing accounts, readily marketable secured loan arrangements, money market mutual funds, or other prudent investments. The guardian may redeem or sell such deposits or investments to pay the reasonable living expenses of the ward as provided herein.
(11) Pay incidental expenses in the administration of the estate.
(12) Sell or exercise stock subscription or conversion rights and consent, directly or through a committee or other agent, to the reorganization, consolidation, merger, dissolution, or liquidation of a corporation or other business enterprise.
(13) When reasonably necessary, employ persons, including attorneys, auditors, investment advisers, care managers, or agents, even if they are associated with the guardian, to advise or assist the guardian in the performance of his or her duties.
(14) Execute and deliver in his or her name as guardian any instrument that is necessary or proper to carry out the orders of the court.
(15) Hold a security in the name of a nominee or in other form without disclosure of the interest of the ward, but the guardian is liable for any act of the nominee in connection with the security so held.
(16) Pay or reimburse costs incurred and reasonable fees or compensation to persons, including attorneys, employed by the guardian pursuant to subsection (13) from the assets of the guardianship estate, subject to obtaining court approval of the annual accounting.
(17) Provide confidential information about a ward which is related to an investigation arising under s. 744.368 to the clerk, part II of this chapter to an Office of Public and Professional Guardians investigator, or part I of chapter 400 to a local or state ombudsman council member conducting such an investigation. Any such clerk, Office of Public and Professional Guardians investigator, or ombudsman shall have a duty to maintain the confidentiality of such information.