In Re: Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida adopted the proposed regular-cycle amendments to the Florida Probate Rules, with revisions to the proposals concerning petitions involving incapacity and guardianship. The amendments clarify service completion and time computation, authorize use of a civil procedure rule for taking testimony, separate guardian accountings from other fiduciary accountings, require disclosure of known alternatives to guardianship, and establish detailed guardian-accounting requirements effective January 1, 2017. Justice Canady, concurring in part and dissenting in part, would not have adopted the amendments to rule 5.696 because he viewed their reporting requirements as exceeding the governing substantive law.