IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2007-065 PA/PI-CIR

 

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RE:   INCAPACITY AND GUARDIANSHIP CASES - INDIGENT PERSONS

 

The Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Sixth Judicial Circuit on behalf of the State of Florida, and the Justice Administrative Commission on behalf of the State of Florida incur various costs when a petition to determine incapacity is filed.  The Clerk of the Circuit Court initially determines whether or not the filing fee must be paid or payment is deferred based upon indigence of the alleged incapacitated person.

 

The Sixth Judicial Circuit will expend funds for the guardianship examining committee appointed pursuant to chapter 744, Florida Statutes. The members of the guardianship examining committee are under contract with the Court and, in cases involving an indigent ward, are paid through funds appropriated by the Florida Legislature to the state courts system.

           

            Pursuant to chapters 27 and 744, Florida Statutes, the State of Florida Justice Administrative Commission will expend funds for the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel (“regional counsel”) or for private attorneys appointed to represent an alleged incapacitated person or a ward in certain guardianship cases.

 

            The procedures for the recovery of costs that have been incurred by the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Sixth Judicial Circuit on behalf of the State of Florida, and the Justice Administrative Commission on behalf of the State of Florida need to be revised to include restoration proceedings and to include references to the regional counsel.  Therefore,

 

IT IS ORDERED:

 

1.         When the filing fee for a proceeding under chapter 744 is not paid due to the indigence of the alleged incapacitated person or the indigence of the ward, the Clerk of the Circuit Court may file a statement of claim in the guardianship case. When the Clerk of the Circuit Court incurs additional costs as specifically provided for in chapter 744, the Clerk of the Circuit Court may file a statement of claim for those costs in the guardianship case. Whenever the Clerk of the Circuit Court files a statement of claim, the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall prepare an Order Requiring Payment of Filing Fees and Costs. The Order shall be substantially similar to the attached form order.

 

2.         When the Court appoints a guardianship examining committee or other expert to examine the ward, including a physician appointed pursuant to section 744.464, Florida Statutes, and the State of Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit is ordered to pay such costs, the Clerk of the Circuit Court shall file a statement of claim on behalf of the State of Florida Sixth Judicial Circuit. The statement of claim shall be substantially similar to the attached form.

 

3.         When the State of Florida Justice Administrative Commission has paid for the costs for the regional counsel or for a court appointed private attorney pursuant to Court order or contract with the private attorney, the court appointed private attorney or the regional counsel shall file a statement of claim on behalf of the State of Florida Justice Administrative Commission. The value of the fees for the regional counsel shall be the amount set forth in the General Appropriations Act, unless otherwise set by the court. The statement of claim shall be substantially similar to the attached form.

 

4.         If assets are later discovered or accumulated in the guardianship estate, the guardian may, without further order of the Court, pay such liens. All checks submitted for such payments by the guardian shall include the case number on the check. Unless the judge in an individual case orders a different priority, payments shall be made in the following order of priority:

 

            a.  Costs of the filing fee. Checks should be made payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court.  In Pasco County, checks should be forwarded to:

 

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Attention:    Guardianship Section

P. O. Drawer 338

New Port Richey, FL  34654

 

In Pinellas County, checks should be forwarded to:

                                                   

Clerk of the Circuit Court

315 Court Street

Clearwater, FL  33756

 

            b. Costs of the guardianship examining committee or other expert appointed by the Court to examine the ward, including a physician appointed pursuant to Section 744.464, Florida Statutes. Checks should be made payable to the State of Florida, Sixth Judicial Circuit.

 

            In Pasco County, checks should be forwarded to:

 

            Clerk of the Circuit Court

Attention: Guardianship Section

            P. O.  Drawer 338

            New Port Richey, FL  34654

 

The Clerk of the Circuit Court will docket receipt of payment and forward it to the Administrative Office of the Courts in New Port Richey.

 

            In Pinellas County, checks should be forwarded to:

 

            Fiscal Office

            Administrative Office of the Courts

            14250 49th Street North

            Clearwater, FL  33762

 

            c. Additional statutory fees including any audit fees assessed by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Checks should be made payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court and forwarded to the address listed in paragraph a.

 

            d. Costs for the regional counsel or the court appointed private attorney. Checks should be made payable to the State of Florida, Justice Administrative Commission and forwarded to:

 

Justice Administrative Commission

P. O. Box 1654

Tallahassee, FL  32302

 

5.         The Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and the Justice Administrative Commission shall file a notice of receipt of payment in the guardianship case whenever payment is made by the guardian.

 

Administrative Order 2004-100 PA/PI-CIR is hereby rescinded.

 

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida this day ______ of July 2007.

 

 

                        _________________________________

                        Robert J. Morris, Jr., Chief Judge

 

cc:        All Judges

The Honorable Bernie McCabe, State Attorney

The Honorable Bob Dillinger, Public Defender

The Honorable Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County

The Honorable Jed Pittman, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pasco County

Carol Heath, Executive Director, Pinellas County Clerk’s Office

Debbie Gay, Assistant Court Services Director, Pasco County Clerk’s Office

Gay L. Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator

Kerry L. Rice, Senior Deputy Court Administrator, Pasco County

Bar Associations, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

Law Libraries, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO/PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

 

 

IN RE: THE GUARDIANSHIP OF                             CASE NO.:______________________

                                                                                    UCN:___________________________

 

____________________________

Incapacitated

 

ORDER REQUIRING PAYMENT OF FILING FEES AND COSTS

 

THIS CAUSE coming on to be heard on the motion of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Court having reviewed the file and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, the Court finds that filing fees and costs were previously deferred by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco/Pinellas County in the above-captioned guardianship after it was determined that the ward was indigent. Pursuant to Sections 27.52 and 744.105, Florida Statutes, the Clerk of the Circuit Court has a right to recover these filing fees and costs in the event assets, income, or property are identified as part of the guardianship estate. Therefore, it is

 

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that, in the event sufficient funds are identified as part of the guardianship estate, the guardian shall be required to pay the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco/Pinellas County for the filing fees and costs deferred in the guardianship.

 

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at___________________________, Pasco/Pinellas County, Florida, this ______ day of_____________________, 20___.

           

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

 

cc:        Guardian:

            Attorney for Guardian:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO/PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

 

IN RE: THE GUARDIANSHIP OF                             CASE NO.:______________________

                                                                                      UCN:___________________________

 

______________________________

Incapacitated

 

STATEMENT OF CLAIM

 

COMES NOW the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco/Pinellas County, on behalf of the State of Florida, and herewith files its claim for reimbursement of amounts advanced said guardianship by the State of Florida pursuant to Section 744.331 or Section 744.464, Florida Statutes, and in support thereof states as follows:

 

1.  The following fees were expended in the above-captioned guardianship case:

 

 

FEES EXPENDED

              Filing Fees and Costs                                                                $_________

                                                      (Make check payable to

Clerk of the Circuit Court)

 

              Examining Committee Fees                                                        $_________

              (Make check payable to The State of Florida,

Sixth Judicial Circuit)

 

Physician Fees                                                                          $_________

 

(Make check payable to The State of Florida,

Sixth Judicial Circuit) 

 

              TOTAL AMOUNT OF CLAIM                                           $_________

                    

2.  These fees and costs have been incurred as a result of the proceedings to determine capacity of the above-mentioned individual, in guardianship case number _________________.

 

3.  Pursuant to Section 27.52, Florida Statutes, the filing fees in a guardianship case may be waived if the ward is indigent; however, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is entitled to file a claim for reimbursement of filing fees waived under this provision.  Pursuant to Section 744.105, Florida Statutes, costs may be awarded in guardianship proceedings.

4.     Pursuant to Section 744.331, Florida Statutes, fees for the examining committee of an indigent individual in a guardianship proceeding shall be paid by the State of Florida. After payment of examining committee fees, pursuant to Section 744.33 1(7)(b), Florida Statutes, the State of Florida is entitled to file a claim against the guardianship to recover those fees paid by the State on behalf of the indigent person.

 

5.     Pursuant to Section 744.464, Florida Statutes, the Court shall appoint a physician to examine the incapacitated individual when a suggestion of capacity is filed. When the incapacitated person is indigent, the cost of the physician is paid by the State of Florida and the State is entitled to file a claim against the guardianship to recover those fees paid by the State on behalf of the indigent person.

 

6.  The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco/Pinellas County, on behalf of the Clerk and the State of Florida, hereby requests this Court enter an order requiring immediate reimbursement of said fees from, or upon discovery of, any assets, income, or property of the ward or of this guardianship estate.

 

7.  In addition, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco/Pinellas County, on behalf of the State of Florida, expects the State of Florida to make future expenditures on the estate. Accordingly, the Clerk requests that this Court consider this as a claim for future fees and costs to be reimbursed and that the Court retain jurisdiction of this claim.

 

WHEREFORE, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Pasco/Pinellas County, on behalf of the Clerk and on behalf of the State of Florida, Sixth Judicial Circuit, requests that this Court consider this as a claim for the amounts set forth above to secure repayment of the respective claims and requests such other and further relief to which it may be entitled.

 

              DATED this______day of                            , 20___.

 

COPIES HAVE BEEN FURNISHED TO:

 

Guardian:

Attorney for Guardian:

Court File

         CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF

                     PASCO/PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

                   

 

                              By:________________________________

                                              DEPUTY CLERK

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO/PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

PROBATE DIVISION

 

IN RE: THE GUARDIANSHIP OF                                 FILE NO:_____________________

                                                                                          FILE NO:_____________________

 

_____________________________

Incapacitated

 

STATEMENT OF CLAIM

 

COMES NOW _________________________, the attorney appointed by the Court to represent the incapacitated person named above, on behalf of the State of Florida Justice Administrative Commission, and herewith files a claim for reimbursement of amounts advanced said guardianship by the State of Florida pursuant to Section 744.331 or Section 744.464, Florida Statutes, and in support thereof states as follows:

1.     The following fees and costs were expended in the above-captioned guardianship case:

 

FEES EXPENDED

              Attorney Fees and Costs                                                           $________

                                                      (Make check payable to State of Florida,

Justice Administrative Commission)

 

              TOTAL AMOUNT OF CLAIM                                           $________

 

 

2.     These fees and costs have been incurred as a result of the proceedings to determine capacity of the above-captioned individual, in guardianship case number__________________.

 

3.  Pursuant to Sections 27.511 and 744.331, Florida Statutes, fees for the regional counsel or for a private attorney appointed to represent an individual in a guardianship proceeding may be paid by the State of Florida in certain circumstances. After payment of such attorney fees, pursuant to Section 744.331(7)(b), Florida Statutes, the State of Florida is entitled to file a claim against the guardianship to recover those fees paid by the State on behalf of the ward or alleged incapacitated person.

 

4.     Pursuant to Section 744.464, Florida Statutes, when an objection to the suggestion of capacity is filed or when the medical examination suggests that a full restoration of rights is not appropriate, the Court shall appoint the regional counsel or a private attorney to represent the ward if the ward does not have an attorney.  Fees for the regional counsel or for a private attorney appointed to represent an individual in a guardianship proceeding may be paid by the State of Florida in certain circumstances.

                                                                                                        

5.     Therefore, _______________________ , the attorney appointed to represent the ward or alleged incapacitated person in the above-captioned guardianship case, on behalf of the State of Florida, Justice Administrative Commission, hereby requests this Court enter an order requiring immediate reimbursement of said fees from, or upon discovery of, any assets, income, or property of the ward or of this guardianship estate.

 

WHEREFORE, ____________________________, the attorney for the above-captioned incapacitated person, on behalf of the State of Florida, Justice Administrative Commission, requests that this Court consider this as a claim for the amount set forth above to secure repayment of the claim and requests such other and further relief to which it may be entitled.

             

              DATED this _____ day of                                , 20___.

 

COPIES HAVE BEEN FURNISHED TO:

 

Guardian:

Attorney for Guardian:

Court File

 

                        BY:______________________________

                                    ATTORNEY FOR THE

                                    INCAPACITATED WARD