A guardianship may be established for various reasons.
A guardianship may be established for various reasons.
- For an adult who lacks the ability to care for him/herself in some aspect
- For a minor who receives an inheritance or settlement
News About Guardianship Task Force
Watch video of recently held joint press conference. (click here)
Read the full press release on the Guardianship Task Force announcement, made on September 8, 2026: Guardianship Task Force – Sep 8 2026 – Full Release – Announcement – CCSO Final
Before reviewing the information on this site regarding our office’s Guardianship related services and roles, please first consider the following:
Do you suspect an individual under guardianship (including an adult or a minor child) is in immediate danger, or being physically abused or neglected?
- Report to local law enforcement immediately (call 911)
- In Clay County, Florida, please contact the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Green Cove Springs Police Department, or Orange Park Police Department (depending on where the physical location of suspected victim / criminal activity is taking place).
Are you concerned that someone under guardianship currently is being exploited, abused, or neglected by a caregiver, family member, or household member?
- Report to: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Abuse Hotline
- Phone: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
- DCF Online Reporting
Do you suspect a court-appointed professional guardian is violating duties or acting unethically?
- Report to: Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG)
- Note: The OPPG investigates registered professional guardians, not family-member guardians
- Hotline: 1-855-305-3030
- Email: OPPGcomplaints@elderaffairs.org
- OPPG Complaint Form
Are you concerned about an active Guardianship case currently being audited in the Clay County, Florida, court system?
- Report your concerns to Clay County Clerk of Court’s Guardianship Compliance Department (Civil)
- Email info@clayclerk.com
Clerk of Court Guardianship Compliance Services
In Clay County, as in counties across our state, hundreds of children and vulnerable adults are provided services through court-appointed Guardians. By statute, reports submitted by these guardians are audited annually. Guardians can be family members, court-appointed professionals, or members of the public approved by the state. The audits we conduct focus especially on the wards’ physical well-being, financial accounts, and status of their assets. When Guardianships are done legally and with compassion – which is the situation in most cases – the wards are properly cared for, their finances and assets are protected, and the wards benefit from an appropriate relationship with their guardians.
Instructions, Resources, Documents, Forms
General Information: Guardianship Information Flyer
Guardianship Bonds: (criteria to meet in order for bond approval)
- Bond of Guardian
- Instructions on Filing Guardianship Cases
- Guardianship Screening Instructions
- How to Complete Out of State Fingerprints – Instructions
Vulnerable Adult Injunctions: Vulnerable Adult Injunction Info Flyer
Forms (…. coming soon)
Guardianship Qualifications & Classes
Any resident of this state who is not under any legal disability or the power of another and is eighteen (18) years of age or older, is qualified to act as guardian. Further qualifications can be found online here. (State of Florida Statute Website)
Guardianship classes are offered by Aging True, 4250 Lakeside Drive, Jacksonville, FL. Contact their office at 904-807-1203 for class schedule.
Certain Guardianships require the filing of a Verified Inventory of Guardian of the Property or an Annual Accounting of the Guardian of the Property.
- Note: The Clerk’s Office charges a statutorily-required auditing fee for conducting the annual audit of Guardianship. Fees vary so please speak to one of our Civil Department Clerks for more information.
Prevention Resources & Best Practices
- Guardianship removes an individual’s fundamental rights and should be a last resort. Before petitioning the court, explore less restrictive alternatives such as Supported Decision-Making Agreements, Durable Powers of Attorney, and Revocable Living Trusts.
- One of the most common forms of exploitation is identity theft. Routinely check and freeze the credit reports of vulnerable adults and minor children to prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in their name.
- For active Guardians, the best way to prevent compliance issues is strict organization. Maintain a dedicated, separate bank account for the estate. Keep every receipt, track every penny on a ledger, and never mix your personal funds with the Guardianship funds to ensure smooth audits during your annual accounting reviews.
- If you have questions about how to track these records or need guidance on remaining compliant, please reach out to Clerk’s Office Guardianship Compliance Department personnel (Civil Dept) at (904) 269-6302. We are here to help you.
General Guardianship Education & Awareness
Here, we switch the focus to community support — helping families, advocates, and volunteers better understand the system.
Statewide Guardianship Resources:
- Florida Courts Guardianship Overview: Plain-language explanations of the legal process and the duties of a guardian.
- Florida Department of Elder Affairs: Resources for senior support, caregiver assistance, and community involvement programs.
- Phone: 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337)
- Office of Public and Professional Guardians (OPPG): Standards, requirements, and oversight of professional guardians in Florida.
- Phone: 1-855-305-3030
- Disability Rights Florida: Educational guides on supported decision-making and protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
- Phone: 1-800-342-0823
Approved Family Guardianship Education Courses:
If the court requires you to take a 4-hour or 8-hour family Guardianship training course, there are multiple approved providers available.
Please note: We cannot officially recommend one provider over another.
- Aging True (Jacksonville In-Person Courses)
- Phone: (904) 807-1203
- GuardianshipEducation.com (Online Courses)
- Phone: (954) 988-4005
- Stetson University College of Law (Online Resources & Training)
- Phone: (727) 562-7393
- Florida State Guardianship Association, Big Bend Chapter (Online Courses)
- Phone: (772) 266-4614
- Seniors First (Live Online Classes)
- Phone: (407) 292-0177
*Please check your local circuit court’s website for a full list of approved education providers in your specific county.