Florida Guardianship Verified Inventory: What to Include

What goes in the inventory

A guardian of the property must file a verified inventory of the ward's property. Under s. 744.365 it must include:

• All property of the ward, real and personal, that has come into the guardian's possession or knowledge, including a statement of all encumbrances, liens and other secured claims on any item, any claims against the property, any cause of action accruing to the ward and any trusts of which the ward is a beneficiary.
• The location of the real and personal property in enough detail that it can be clearly identified or located.
• A description of all sources of income, including Social Security benefits and pensions.

What must accompany it

Along with the verified inventory, the guardian must file a copy of the most current statement of all of the ward's cash assets from every institution where cash is on deposit.

Safe-deposit boxes

• The initial opening of any safe-deposit box must be done in the presence of an employee of the institution where the box is located.
• The inventory of the contents must also be done in the employee's presence, and the employee verifies the contents by signing a copy of the inventory.
• The box inventory is filed with the court within 10 days after the box is opened.
• The guardian gives the ward a copy of each signed box inventory unless the ward is a minor or adjudicated totally incapacitated or the order appointing the guardian says otherwise.
• Nothing may be removed from the box without specific court approval.

Timing, service and records

• The inventory is the initial report of a guardian of the property, due within 60 days after the letters of guardianship are signed (s. 744.362). It is served on the ward, unless the ward is a minor under 14 or totally incapacitated, and on the ward's attorney.
• The guardian must keep substantiating papers sufficient to show the inventory is accurate for three years after discharge, and must identify by name, address and occupation any witnesses present at the initial inventory of the ward's personal property. The papers need not be filed but must be available for inspection as the court orders.

The audit fee

If the ward's property is worth more than $25,000, the guardian pays the clerk a fee of up to $85 from the ward's property when the inventory is filed, to cover auditing the inventory. The guardian can petition to waive the fee on a showing of insufficient funds, and no audit fee may be charged where the property is worth less than $25,000.

General information for Florida practitioners, reviewed in October 2026 against the statute and rule text linked above. It is not legal advice. Rules, statutes and local circuit practices change, so confirm against the current text and your circuit's requirements before relying on it.

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