Fl. Prob. R. 5.550

As amended through November 4, 2024

Rule 5.550 - PETITION TO DETERMINE INCAPACITY

(a) Contents. The petition to determine incapacity must be verified by the petitioner and must state:

(1) the name, age, and present address of the petitioner and the petitioner's relationship to the alleged incapacitated person;

(2) the name, age, county of residence, and present address of the alleged incapacitated person, and specify the primary language spoken by the alleged incapacitated person, if known;

(3) that the petitioner believes the alleged incapacitated person to be incapacitated, the facts on which such belief is based, and the names and addresses of all persons known to the petitioner who have knowledge of such facts through personal observation;

(4) the name and address of the alleged incapacitated person's attending or family physician, if known;

(5) which rights the alleged incapacitated person is incapable of exercising to the best of the petitioner's knowledge; and, if the petitioner has insufficient experience to make that judgment, the petitioner must so indicate;

(6) whether plenary or limited guardianship is sought for the alleged incapacitated person;

(7) the names, relationships, and addresses of the next of kin of the alleged incapacitated person, specifying the year of birth of any who are minors, to the extent known to the petitioner;

(8) whether there are possible alternatives to guardianship known to the petitioner, including, but not limited to, trust agreements, powers of attorney, designations of health care surrogates, other advance directives, or supported decisionmaking agreements, and if the petitioner is seeking a guardianship, an explanation as to why the alternatives are insufficient to meet the needs of the alleged incapacitated person; and

(9) whether the alleged incapacitated person uses assistance to exercise the person's rights, including, but not limited to, supported decisionmaking agreements, and if so, why the assistance is inappropriate or insufficient to allow the person to independently exercise the person's rights.

(b) Notice.

(1)Contents. The notice of filing the petition to determine incapacity must state:

(A) the time and place of the hearing to inquire into the capacity of the alleged incapacitated person;

(B) that an attorney has been appointed to represent such person; and

(C) that if the court determines that such person is incapable of exercising any of the rights enumerated in the petition a guardian may be appointed.

(2)Service on Alleged Incapacitated Person. The notice and a copy of the petition to determine incapacity must be personally served by an elisor appointed by the court, who may be the court appointed counsel for the alleged incapacitated person. The elisor must read the notice to the alleged incapacitated person, but need not read the petition. A return of service must be filed by the elisor certifying that the notice and petition have been served on and the notice read to the alleged incapacitated person. No responsive pleading is required and no default may be entered for failure to file a responsive pleading. The allegations of the petition are deemed denied.

(3)Service on Others. A copy of the petition and the notice must also be served on counsel for the alleged incapacitated person, and on all next of kin.

(c) Verified Statement. An interested person may file a verified statement that states:

(1) that he or she has a good faith belief that the alleged incapacitated person's trust, trust amendment, or durable power of attorney is invalid; and

(2) facts constituting a reasonable basis for that belief.

(d) Order. When an order determines that a person is incapable of exercising delegable rights, it must specify whether there is an alternative to guardianship that will sufficiently address the problems of the incapacitated person.

(e) Reports.

(1)Filing. Each member of the examining committee must file his or her report with the clerk of the court within 15 days after appointment.

(2)Service. Within 3 days after receipt of each examining committee member's report, the clerk must serve the report on the petitioner and the attorney for the alleged incapacitated person by e-mail or United States mail, and, on service, must file a certificate of service in the incapacity proceeding. The petitioner and the attorney for the alleged incapacitated person must be served with all reports at least 10 days before the hearing on the petition, unless the reports are not complete, in which case the petitioner and attorney for the alleged incapacitated person may waive the 10-day requirement and consent to the consideration of the report by the court at the adjudicatory hearing. If service is not timely effectuated, the petitioner or the alleged incapacitated person may move for a continuance of the hearing.

(3)Objections. The petitioner and the alleged incapacitated person may object to the introduction into evidence of all or any portion of the examining committee members' reports by filing and serving a written objection on the other party no later than 5 days before the adjudicatory hearing. The objection must state the basis on which the challenge to admissibility is made. If an objection is timely filed and served, the court must apply the rules of evidence in determining the reports' admissibility. For good cause shown, the court may extend the time to file and serve the written objection.

(f) Adjudicatory Hearing. On appointment of the examining committee, the court must set the date on which the petition will be heard. The adjudicatory hearing must be conducted within at least 10 days, which time period may be waived, but no more than 30 days after the filing of the last filed report of the examining committee members, unless good cause is shown.

Fl. Prob. R. 5.550

Amended by SC2024-1057, effective 9/5/2024; amended by 2021 WL 5050374, effective 10/28/2021; amended by 309 So.3d 196, effective 12/31/2020; amended by 301 So.3d 859, effective 9/3/2020; amended by 226 So.3d 245, effective 9/7/2017; amended by 199 So.3d 835, effective 1/1/2017; amended by 139 So.3d 875, effective 4/22/2014; amended by 948 So.2d 735, effective 2/1/2007; amended by 584 So.2d 964, effective 10/1/1991; amended by 551 So.2d 452, effective 10/1/1989; amended by 458 So.2d 1079, effective 1/1/1985; amended by 387 So.2d 949, effective 1/1/1981; amended by 344 So.2d 828, effective 7/1/1977; amended by 324 So.2d 38, effective 1/1/1976; adopted by 201 So. 2d 409, effective 1/1/1968.

Committee Notes

Rule History

1980 Revision: Implements 1979 amendments to section 744.331, Florida Statutes.

1984 Revision: Change in title of rule. Editorial changes and adds a provision for service of petition. Committee notes revised.

1988 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in committee notes.

1989 Revision by Ad Hoc Committee: The committee realized that formal notice as defined in rule 5.040(a)(1) requires the recipient of notice to file a responsive pleading within 20 days after the service of the notice. The committee believed that to impose such a requirement on the alleged incapacitated person would contravene the legislative intent of the 1989 revisions to chapter 744, Florida Statutes. The committee observed that the time required for appointment of mandatory appointed counsel might render a responsive pleading within 20 days impossible for the alleged incapacitated person. The committee concluded that, procedurally, notice upon the alleged incapacitated person should occur in the same manner as formal notice in rule 5.040, but the required response under that rule should not be imposed upon the alleged incapacitated person.

1991 Revision: Implements 1989 amendments to sections 744.3201 and 744.331, Florida Statutes, and 1990 technical amendments.

1992 Revision: Citation form changes in committee notes.

2006 Revision: Subdivisions (c) and (d) added to incorporate 2006 amendment to section 744.441 and creation of section 744.462, Florida Statutes. Committee notes revised.

2014 Revision: Amends subdivision (a)(7) to conform with Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.425. Committee notes revised.

2016 Revision: Subdivision (a)(8) added to require the disclosure of whether there are possible alternatives to guardianship known to the petitioner. Committee notes revised.

2017 Revision: Adopts new subdivisions (e)(1)-(e)(3) to address statutory changes in sections 744.331(3)(e), (3)(h), and (3)(i), Florida Statutes, regarding filing, service, and objections to examining committee members' reports. Adopts new subdivision (f) to address statutory changes regarding the timing of the adjudicatory hearing in section 744.331(5)(a), Florida Statutes. Committee notes revised.

2020 Revision (September): Amends subdivision (a)(8) to address the Judicial Management Council Guardianship Workgroup Final Report dated June 15, 2018, Focus Area 1, Recommendation 3, by requiring an explanation if there are less restrictive alternatives to guardianship, but they are not sufficient to meet the needs of the alleged incapacitated person. Committee notes revised.

2020 Revision (December): Statutory references amended.

2024 Revision: Subdivision (a)(8) amended and new subdivision (a)(9) adopted to conform to section 744.3201(2)(d), Florida Statutes. Committee notes revised.

Statutory References

§ 709.2104, Fla. Stat. Durable power of attorney.

§ 709.2109, Fla. Stat. Termination or suspension of power of attorney or agent's authority.

§ 744.1012, Fla. Stat. Legislative intent.

§ 744.104, Fla. Stat. Verification of documents.

§ 744.3045, Fla. Stat. Preneed guardian.

§ 744.3115, Fla. Stat. Advance directives for health care.

§ 744.3201, Fla. Stat. Petition to determine incapacity.

§ 744.331, Fla. Stat. Procedures to determine incapacity.

§ 744.3371, Fla. Stat. Notice of petition for appointment of guardian and hearing.

§ 744.441(1)(k), Fla. Stat. Powers of guardian upon court approval.

§ 744.462, Fla. Stat. Determination regarding alternatives to guardianship.

§ 765.102, Fla. Stat. Legislative intent and findings.

Rule References

Fla. Prob. R. 5.020 Pleadings; verification; motions.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.040(a)(3) Notice.

Fla. Prob. R. 5.800(a) Application of revised chapter 744 to existing guardianships.

Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the Filing of Sensitive Information.