State guide
Florida
Florida adult guardianship cases are handled in the circuit court’s probate or probate-and-guardianship division. Florida’s statewide courts page emphasizes that guardianship is used only when no less restrictive alternative is appropriate and available.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship petitions are handled in the Florida circuit court, usually in the probate or probate-and-guardianship division.
- What it's called
- guardian of the person and guardian of the property
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $230 for guardianship proceedings of person only; $395 for guardianship or conservatorship proceedings.
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- Florida courts state guardianship is used only when no less restrictive alternative, such as a durable power of attorney, trust, health care surrogate, proxy, or other pre-need directive, is appropriate and available.
- Law
- Fla. Stat. ch. 744; filing fees at Fla. Stat. § 28.2401
Official resources in Florida
Statewide court overview explaining guardianship, ward rights, and less restrictive alternatives.
Official Florida Courts help page pointing to guardianship information and local forms resources.
Official guardianship statute chapter, including powers, duties, reports, and alternatives determinations.
Official filing-fee statute for probate, guardianship, and conservatorship proceedings.
Official local court resource page for Miami-Dade guardianship users.
Key facts for Florida
- Florida Statutes section 28.2401 lists a $395 filing fee for guardianship or conservatorship proceedings.
- Florida Statutes section 28.2401 lists a $230 filing fee for guardianship proceedings of person only.
- Florida calls the roles guardian of the person and guardian of the property.
- Chapter 744 is cited as the Florida Guardianship Law.
- Florida courts say guardianship is warranted only when no less restrictive alternative is appropriate and available.
County court guardianship pages in Florida
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate Division (Estates/Guardianship/Mental Health), Eleventh Judicial Circuit Miami-Dade | Miami | (305) 349-5713 | Handles probate, guardianship, and related mental health matters in Miami-Dade. |
| Probate and Guardianship, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Broward | Fort Lauderdale | Not published* | Official Broward probate and guardianship page with smart forms, local procedures, and filing information. |
| Probate Division, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Broward | Fort Lauderdale | Not published* | States the Probate Division handles determinations of incapacity and guardianships. |
| Guardianship, Ninth Judicial Circuit Orange | Orlando | Not published* | Official Orange County guardianship page with location and court forms links. |
| Probate/Guardianship/Mental Health Court, Ninth Judicial Circuit Orange | Orlando | Not published* | Explains that the Probate Division of circuit court has jurisdiction over guardianship proceedings. |
| Guardianship Case Management, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Hillsborough | Tampa | 813-276-2726 | Court program providing guardianship case-management services and family guardianship classes in Hillsborough County. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Identify whether the petition seeks person only or person-and-property relief, because Florida publishes different filing fees.
- Gather any existing power of attorney, trust, health care surrogate, or proxy documents before filing.
- Check the probate division’s local smart forms or procedures for the county where the case will be filed.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Florida's population center, for comparison only):
- Chatham County Probate Court, Georgia · about 290 miles
- Charleston County Probate Court - Guardianship/Conservatorship Coordinator, South Carolina · about 360 miles
- Richland County Probate Court, South Carolina · about 431 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Florida Courts – Guardianship
Website →Phone: (850) 922-5081 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Florida page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.