How to Fill Out Florida Annual Guardianship Plan (w/Examples) + FAQs

The Florida Annual Guardianship Plan is the yearly report a court-appointed guardian of the person must file with the circuit court to show how the ward lived, where the ward lived, and what medical and social care the ward received during the past year. Every plenary guardian of the person and limited guardian of the person in Florida must file one, and the rule comes straight from Florida Statute § 744.3675 and Florida Probate Rule 5.695.

Filing on time matters because Florida courts can remove a guardian, surcharge the bond, or hold the guardian in contempt for late or missing plans. According to the Florida Office of Public and Professional Guardians 2024 report, more than 50,000 active adult guardianships are pending statewide, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court reviews each annual plan filed through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Here is what this guide covers:

📝 How to fill out Florida Probate Form P-3.930 line by line for an adult ward
👶 How the minor ward version (Form P-3.929) differs and what unique fields it contains
🏥 What medical, residential, and social information the court demands and why
⚖️ Three full named-person scenarios from start to finish, including a guardian advocate under Chapter 393
🚫 The 10 most common mistakes that trigger plan rejection or removal hearings

What the Annual Guardianship Plan Is and Who Must File It

The Annual Guardianship Plan is a sworn court document that reports on the ward’s well-being for the past 12 months and proposes a care plan for the coming year. The form lives in the Florida Probate Rules forms set, currently revised in 2023, and is also approved as Florida Supreme Court Form P-3.930 for adult wards and Form P-3.929 for minor wards. The plan is filed by the guardian of the person, never the guardian of the property, although a plenary guardian who serves both roles must file the plan plus the separate annual accounting under § 744.3678.

Every guardian of the person in Florida must file, including plenary guardians, limited guardians, emergency temporary guardians whose appointment crosses the anniversary, and guardian advocates appointed under § 393.12 for adults with developmental disabilities. Public guardians from the Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG) file the same plan, and professional guardians registered under § 744.2002 follow the same template. A guardian advocate under Chapter 393 files the same plan, except the plan must also reference the developmental services support plan from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

The form serves three jobs at once. It tells the judge whether the ward is safe, it tells the clerk whether the bond and accounting align with the care being provided, and it tells the court monitor or guardian ad litem whether a wellness check is needed. Skipping the plan, or filing one that is incomplete, has the direct consequence of removal under § 744.474(2) and surcharge against the guardian’s bond.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather these items before opening the form, because the plan asks for specific dates, dollar figures, and provider names that you cannot guess at the last minute. A complete pre-filing packet shortens the review and reduces the odds the clerk will issue a deficiency notice through the eFiling Portal.

Letters of Guardianship. You need the issuance date because the anniversary month controls your filing deadline under § 744.3675.
Most recent physician’s report. Florida requires a current physician’s evaluation dated within the last 90 days, and a missing report stalls approval.
Residential evaluation or visit log. You must list every address the ward lived at, even short rehab stays, or the residential section will read as inaccurate.
Medication list. The plan asks for medications by name, dose, and prescribing doctor, and missing meds raise red flags about supervision.
Social activity log. You need names of people the ward visited or called, because the plan requires a social condition narrative.
Service provider invoices. Names of home health agencies, day programs, and therapists go on the plan to confirm services match the accounting.
Ward’s Social Security and Medicaid numbers. These are needed for the cover sheet and for cross-checking benefits coordination.
Prior year’s plan. You compare year over year so the judge can see progression, and missing context will draw a status hearing.
Bond information. The bond number and amount must match the court’s docket so the clerk can confirm coverage.
Court case number and division. Wrong case numbers route the plan to the wrong judge and can be treated as not filed at all.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official adult Annual Guardianship Plan form is Florida Probate Form P-3.930, and the minor ward version is Form P-3.929. Both live on the Florida Courts forms page and are also distributed by each county clerk, including Miami-Dade Clerk, Hillsborough Clerk, and Orange County Clerk. The form is fillable PDF, but most circuits now require it to be uploaded through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal rather than mailed.

You can also pick up paper forms at the probate division of any circuit court clerk’s office, and a few circuits like the Twentieth Judicial Circuit provide local cover sheets that must accompany the plan. Always check the revision date stamped at the bottom of the form, because filing a 2018 version after the 2023 revision triggers a clerk rejection. Self-represented guardians who need help can use the Florida Courts Self-Help Center or the local law library, but they should not download forms from third-party blogs because those copies are often outdated.

The Florida Supreme Court last approved revisions to the form in In re Amendments to Florida Probate Rules, so always pull from the court site, not search results. The form is free, but the e-filing portal will request the case number and division before letting you upload, which is why the docket information must be ready first.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Florida Annual Guardianship Plan Line by Line

The form has a caption, identifying information, and seven main parts, plus the verification and certificate of service. Use the exact field names printed on Form P-3.930, and match every entry to documents you can prove. The walkthrough below uses the adult ward form, with notes on minor ward differences from Form P-3.929 where they apply.

Caption and Case Style

The caption lists the court, the case number, the division, the ward’s name, and the title Annual Guardianship Plan. You enter the circuit court where the guardianship was opened, the assigned probate division letter, and the full case number exactly as it appears on the Letters of Guardianship. Maria Lopez writes IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROBATE DIVISION, Case No. 24-GA-001234.

A common edge case is when the ward has a legal name change pending, and the guardian must use the name on the Letters, not the new name, until an order updates it. The most common mistake here is leaving the case number off the second page, which causes the clerk to misroute the filing and treat it as never received. Many filers think the caption is just decoration, but it is the legal address of the case, and a wrong caption is grounds for rejection.

Ward’s Identifying Information

This block asks for the ward’s full legal name, date of birth, current address, telephone, Social Security number (last four digits in some circuits), and Medicaid or Medicare number. Use the ward’s legal name from the Letters of Guardianship, formatted as last name, first name, middle name. Carlos Rivera enters Rivera, Carlos M., DOB 04/12/1948, SSN xxx-xx-1234, Medicaid 1234567890A.

The edge case is a ward in a long-term care facility whose mailing address differs from the physical address, and you must list the physical address because the plan tracks where the ward actually sleeps. The most common mistake is using a P.O. Box instead of the residence, which causes the court monitor to be unable to perform a home visit. A common misconception is that you can keep the ward’s address private here, but the plan is part of the court record, and confidentiality requires a separate motion.

Part I — Information About the Guardian

Part I asks for the guardian’s full name, address, phone, email, and relationship to the ward, plus whether the guardian is professional or family. Enter the guardian’s information exactly as it appears in the Letters, and check the Family or Professional box based on whether you are registered with OPPG. Janet Williams checks Family Guardian, lists her relationship as Daughter, and enters her home address in Tampa, Florida.

The edge case is co-guardians, where both names go on Part I and both must sign the verification. The most common mistake is forgetting to update a guardian’s address after a move, because the court mails notices to the address of record, and a missed notice can lead to a show-cause order. A misconception is that listing your work address is fine, but professional guardians must list the registered business address on file with OPPG, or the registration data will not match.

Part II — Residence of the Ward

Part II requires a list of every place the ward lived during the reporting year, with start and end dates and the type of residence (private home, ALF, nursing home, hospital). You list addresses in chronological order with the level of care provided at each. Carlos Rivera lived at 123 Bay Street, Tampa, FL from 06/01/2024 to 03/15/2025, then at Sunny Pines ALF, License 12345, from 03/16/2025 forward.

The edge case is short hospital stays, which still must be listed if they crossed five days, because the court treats them as a change of residence for safety review. The most common mistake is forgetting an interim rehab stay, and the consequence is the medical records and the residential record will not match, leading to a deficiency notice. People often think only permanent moves count, but every overnight stay outside the primary residence counts under Probate Rule 5.695.

Part III — Medical and Mental Health Condition

Part III asks for the ward’s diagnoses, treating physicians, medications, therapies, and any hospitalizations. Use the most recent physician’s report dated within 90 days, and list each medication with dose and frequency. Eleanor Park, ward, is diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (ICD-10 G30.1), takes Donepezil 10 mg daily, and is followed by Dr. Singh at Tampa Neurology.

The edge case is mental health commitments under the Baker Act, which must be disclosed even if brief, because the court tracks involuntary placements separately. The most common mistake is leaving off PRN (as-needed) medications, and the direct consequence is the medication list will not match the ALF’s MAR if the court monitor pulls it. A common misconception is that HIPAA shields the medical record from the plan, but a guardian holds the HIPAA personal representative role for the ward and must disclose treatment to the court.

Part IV — Social Condition of the Ward

Part IV asks how the ward is socially supported, what activities the ward attended, and which family members or friends visit. You describe the frequency and quality of visits, calls, religious services, and community activities. Marcus Bell visits his mother twice weekly, takes her to St. Paul’s church on Sundays, and arranges weekly video calls with her sister in Georgia.

The edge case is an isolated ward with no living relatives, and the guardian must describe staff interactions, day program attendance, or volunteer visits to show meaningful contact. The most common mistake is writing visits regularly without naming visitors or counting them, because the court treats vague language as proof of insufficient contact. A misconception is that this section is optional fluff, but Florida courts treat social isolation as a vulnerability factor and may order a guardian ad litem visit if Part IV is thin.

Part V — Plan for Provision of Medical, Mental Health, and Personal Care Services

Part V is the forward-looking care plan for the next 12 months, including providers, frequency, and goals. List each scheduled service, the provider’s name and license, and the expected outcome. Aisha Carter plans to continue weekly physical therapy at HealthSouth, monthly visits with primary care Dr. Patel, and quarterly neurology visits, with the goal of maintaining mobility.

The edge case is a ward whose condition is terminal, and the plan should reference hospice enrollment or palliative goals rather than rehabilitation. The most common mistake is listing services already discontinued, which makes the plan look copied from last year and triggers a content review. People wrongly think this section can be left blank when the ward is stable, but every plan must contain affirmative goals or the Probate Rule 5.695 review will flag it as incomplete.

Part VI — Plan for Residence

Part VI explains where the ward will live in the coming year and any planned moves. State the current address, whether it will continue, and any anticipated transitions to higher care. Maria Lopez plans to keep her father at Sunny Pines ALF for the next 12 months unless his dementia progresses to require a skilled nursing facility.

The edge case is wards whose residence depends on Medicaid waiver approval, and the plan should note the waiver status and contingency plan. The most common mistake is committing to a residence the guardian has not toured or contracted with, leading to a forced last-minute move. A misconception is that a planned move requires only a notation here, but Florida law requires a separate court order before relocating a ward to a more restrictive setting under § 744.3215(4).

Part VII — Plan for Application of Ward’s Services and Income

Part VII describes how the guardian will use the ward’s income, benefits, and services to meet care needs. Identify Social Security, pension, Medicaid, VA, and other income, and link each to a category of expense. Janet Williams will apply $1,800 monthly Social Security to ALF rent, $200 to medications, and use Medicaid for therapy services.

The edge case is a ward with a special needs trust, and the plan must coordinate trust distributions with public benefits to avoid disqualification. The most common mistake is mixing this section with the annual accounting figures, since this is a plan, not a ledger, and exact dollar amounts go on the annual accounting under § 744.3678. A misconception is that VA aid and attendance benefits don’t need to be listed, but the court counts every income stream when reviewing benefit coordination.

Verification and Signature

The plan ends with a sworn verification under penalty of perjury, signed by the guardian and notarized or signed under § 92.525 with the printed declaration. The signature must match the name on the Letters, and co-guardians both sign. Marcus Bell signs and prints his name, dates the verification 09/15/2025, and includes the perjury declaration as written on the form.

The edge case is a guardian out of state at filing time, and Florida accepts an online notary under Chapter 117 for the verification. The most common mistake is filing without a verification, which makes the plan a nullity even if every other field is perfect. A misconception is that an attorney can sign for the guardian, but the verification must be the guardian’s personal oath because perjury liability cannot be delegated.

Certificate of Service

The certificate of service confirms the plan was sent to the ward, the ward’s attorney, and any interested persons entitled to notice under Probate Rule 5.060. List each recipient with their address and the date and method of service. Aisha Carter served the ward, her court-appointed attorney, and the ward’s adult daughter via U.S. Mail on 09/15/2025.

The edge case is when the ward has no attorney of record, and the certificate should still list the ward at the residence address. The most common mistake is omitting the ward as a recipient, which violates the Florida Bar’s probate notice rules. A misconception is that e-filing automatically serves all parties, but only registered e-portal users are auto-served, and the rest must be served by mail with the certificate documenting it.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three named scenarios that walk through the form for the most common Florida guardianship situations. Each table follows one guardian end to end so you can see how the choices flow together.

Scenario 1 — Maria Lopez, Daughter Guardian for Father with Dementia

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Caption	Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, Case No. 24-GA-001234, Probate Division A
Ward’s Identifying Information	Lopez, Eduardo R., DOB 02/14/1944, Sunny Pines ALF, Tampa, FL
Part I — Guardian	Maria Lopez, Daughter, Family Guardian, Tampa, FL
Part II — Residence	Sunny Pines ALF (License ALF12345) entire reporting year
Part III — Medical	Moderate Alzheimer’s, Donepezil 10 mg, Dr. Singh, Tampa Neurology
Part IV — Social	Daily visits from Maria, Sunday church visits, weekly calls with sister
Part V — Care Plan	Continue ALF level care, quarterly neurology, monthly primary care
Part VI — Residence Plan	Remain at Sunny Pines unless dementia progresses to require skilled nursing
Part VII — Income Plan	$1,950 SS to ALF, $250 to medications, Medicaid for therapy
Verification & Service	Signed under § 92.525, served on ward and ward’s attorney by mail

Scenario 2 — Carlos Rivera, Professional Guardian for Adult with Developmental Disability

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Caption	Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County, Case No. 23-GA-005678, Probate Division 02
Ward’s Identifying Information	Park, Eleanor J., DOB 07/22/1990, group home address, Orlando, FL
Part I — Guardian	Carlos Rivera, Professional Guardian, OPPG Reg #PG-2021-0456
Part II — Residence	APD-licensed group home all year, no overnight hospital stays
Part III — Medical	Down syndrome, hypothyroidism, Levothyroxine 50 mcg, primary care Dr. Lee
Part IV — Social	Daily peer interaction at group home, weekly day program at APD provider
Part V — Care Plan	Continue APD waiver services, annual physical, dental every 6 months
Part VI — Residence Plan	Stay in group home, contingent on continued APD waiver authorization
Part VII — Income Plan	SSI $943 to room and board, APD waiver for day program and supports
Verification & Service	Notarized signature, served on APD support coordinator and ward

Scenario 3 — Janet Williams, Mother Guardian of Minor with Settlement

Form Section	What Janet Enters
Caption	Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Case No. 24-GA-009876, Probate Division 04
Ward’s Identifying Information	Williams, Tyler J., DOB 11/03/2014 (minor), home address, Miami, FL
Part I — Guardian	Janet Williams, Mother, Family Guardian of the Person, Miami
Part II — Residence	Family home with Janet, no other residences during reporting year
Part III — Medical	Traumatic brain injury, occupational therapy 2x/week, Dr. Ramirez at Nicklaus
Part IV — Social	Attends 4th grade, plays adaptive soccer, weekly visits with grandparents
Part V — Care Plan	Continue OT and speech therapy, annual neurology, IEP review at school
Part VI — Residence Plan	Stay in family home through reporting period
Part VII — Income Plan	Settlement proceeds held by guardian of property, no income to person guardian
Verification & Service	Signed under penalty of perjury, served on ward’s attorney ad litem

How to File the Completed Annual Guardianship Plan

Florida circuit courts require electronic filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for any guardian represented by counsel and for most pro se guardians as well. Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing waiver by motion if they lack internet access, but the default channel is the portal. Each county clerk also accepts in-person filing for those who qualify for the waiver.

E-filing portal. Upload the signed PDF plan at myflcourtaccess.com, select the case, and choose Annual Guardianship Plan as the document type. There is no filing fee for the plan itself, processing typically takes 3–7 business days, and the portal email confirmation is your proof of filing.
Paper filing. Take two copies to the probate division of the county Clerk of the Circuit Court, pay no plan fee but bring a self-addressed stamped envelope for the conformed copy, and expect 7–14 days for processing.
Mail filing. Send to the probate division of the clerk in the county where the case is filed, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, and use certified mail so you keep a green card as proof.
In person. Walk into the probate counter at the Miami-Dade, Orange, Hillsborough, or any other county clerk between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and ask for a date-stamped copy.

After filing, the clerk routes the plan to the assigned probate judge and to the court monitor if one has been appointed. The judge can approve, set a hearing, or issue a deficiency notice within roughly 30 days, depending on the circuit’s caseload.

What Happens After You File

After filing, the clerk dockets the plan and forwards it to the judge for review under Probate Rule 5.695. If the plan is complete and consistent with the prior accounting, the judge typically enters an order approving the plan without a hearing. If the plan is missing information, the court issues a deficiency notice through the e-portal, and you have a set period (often 30 days) to amend.

A court monitor or guardian ad litem may visit the ward to verify the plan’s claims, especially if the social condition section reads sparse or if the residence changed without prior court approval. Wards and interested persons have the right to object to the plan within the timeframe set by § 744.3678 and Probate Rule 5.695. If a hearing is set, the guardian should bring the underlying records (medical reports, residential evaluations, service invoices) to support each section.

The order approving the plan resets the cycle, and the guardian must begin tracking the next 12 months immediately. Failure to address a deficiency notice can lead to an order to show cause, and continued noncompliance can trigger removal under § 744.474.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Filing late. Missing the 90-day window after the anniversary month invites a show-cause order and possible removal.
Using the wrong form. Using P-3.929 (minor) for an adult ward will cause rejection because the fields don’t match.
Vague social condition. Writing visits regularly without naming visitors gets flagged as insufficient contact.
Outdated physician’s report. A report older than 90 days will not satisfy the medical condition section.
Missing PRN medications. Leaving off as-needed meds creates a mismatch with the ALF medication record.
Wrong case number. A typo routes the plan to a different judge and treats it as not filed.
No verification. Filing without a signed perjury declaration makes the plan legally void.
Skipping the certificate of service. The plan must be served on the ward and interested persons or the court treats it as defective.
Mixing accounting figures into Part VII. Dollar-by-dollar ledgers belong in the annual accounting, not the plan.
Listing a P.O. Box as the ward’s residence. The court must be able to send a monitor to a physical address.
Forgetting brief hospital stays. Stays of more than 5 days count as residence changes under Rule 5.695.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do file through the eFiling Portal because it auto-serves registered parties and timestamps your filing.
Do keep a working copy with notes throughout the year so the plan is not a last-minute reconstruction.
Do match the medical section to the most current physician’s report so the dates align.
Do name visitors in Part IV because Florida courts treat named contacts as proof of social engagement.
Do track every overnight stay outside the residence so Part II is complete.
Do verify the case number against the Letters of Guardianship before uploading.
Don’t copy last year’s plan word for word because the court compares year-over-year for change.
Don’t rely on a third-party website’s PDF since revisions may have changed.
Don’t sign without reading the perjury declaration because the verification carries criminal exposure.
Don’t skip serving the ward, even if the ward is incapacitated.
Don’t use nicknames for the ward, only the legal name on the Letters.
Don’t assume e-filing serves everyone because only registered users are auto-served.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Filing pro se saves money but takes time, while hiring an attorney or using a registered professional guardian costs more but reduces the risk of a deficiency notice. The right choice depends on the ward’s complexity, the guardian’s experience, and the county’s local practices.

Pros of filing pro se:

No attorney’s fees, which preserves the ward’s estate for care.
Direct knowledge of the ward’s daily life makes the social condition section authentic.
Builds the family guardian’s familiarity with the court file.
Faster turnaround because no hand-off to counsel is needed.
Encourages careful record-keeping all year long.

Cons of filing pro se:

Higher chance of deficiency notices, especially in Part V’s care plan.
Risk of missing local circuit rules that vary county to county.
Verification mistakes are common and void the plan.
Filing portal navigation is hard for first-timers.
No legal cushion if a interested person objects and a hearing is set.

FAQs

When is the Florida Annual Guardianship Plan due?

Within 90 days after the last day of the anniversary month of the Letters of Guardianship under § 744.3675, unless the court orders otherwise.

Do I file the plan with the same form for adult and minor wards?

No. Adult wards use Form P-3.930 and minor wards use Form P-3.929, and using the wrong one will trigger a clerk rejection.

Is there a filing fee for the Annual Guardianship Plan?

No. Florida does not charge a filing fee for the annual plan itself, though the annual accounting may carry an audit fee in some counties.

Do I have to file electronically?

Yes in most cases, through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, unless you obtain a court order allowing paper filing.

Do I write the ward’s full Social Security number in the identifying box?

No. Florida confidentiality rules limit SSN disclosure to the last four digits unless the court orders the full number.

Do I list every hospital stay in Part II?

Yes if the stay was more than 5 days or changed the ward’s level of care, because Probate Rule 5.695 treats it as a change of residence.

Do I list as-needed medications in Part III?

Yes. PRN medications must be listed with name, dose, and indication so the court has a complete medication picture.

Can my attorney sign the verification for me?

No. The verification is sworn under penalty of perjury and must be signed personally by the guardian under Chapter 837.

Do I serve the ward with the plan even if the ward is incapacitated?

Yes. Probate Rule 5.060 requires service on the ward and the ward’s attorney unless the court orders otherwise.

Does a guardian advocate under Chapter 393 file the same plan?

Yes. Guardian advocates file the same plan and reference the APD support plan inside Part V.

What if I miss the 90-day deadline?

No good outcome follows. The court can issue a show-cause order, surcharge the bond, or remove the guardian under § 744.474.

Do I need to attach the physician’s report to the plan?

Yes in most circuits the report is filed with the plan, and the medical section must match dated entries from a report less than 90 days old.

Can I move the ward to a more restrictive setting just by noting it in Part VI?

No. A move to a more restrictive residence requires a separate court order under § 744.3215(4) before the move.

Do co-guardians each file a separate plan?

No. Co-guardians file one joint plan, but both must sign the verification and certificate of service.

Do I file the annual accounting at the same time?

Yes if you are also guardian of the property. The annual accounting under § 744.3678 is a separate document filed alongside the plan.

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