New Florida guardianship law a step in right direction
As your elected clerk and comptroller for Palm Beach County, I am committed to ensuring our most vulnerable citizens are not victims of financial predators.
In 2010, we launched a local Guardianship Fraud Program and Hotline. Through my Division of Inspector General, more than 2,800 guardianship cases with assets totaling more than a half-billion dollars are subject to an extensive audit.
To date, we have uncovered more than $4 million in unsubstantiated disbursements, missing assets and fraud. As our county’s senior population continues to rise, there will be a corresponding increase in guardianship cases predicted to be about 15 percent, or 400 cases, per year.
Because of this success, it became my mission to strengthen statewide guardianship laws. These efforts led to the passing of House Bill 635 in 2014, which was modeled after our guardianship audit program. This law now enables clerks statewide to audit and investigate fraud or financial exploitation in guardianship cases.
To further strengthen guardianship oversight, Gov. Scott signed House Bill 5 — “Guardianship Proceedings.” This law calls for more transparency, independence and accountability in court proceedings that affect wards under guardianships.
Passage of this bill is another step toward increasing protection of our most vulnerable citizens while enhancing public confidence in the justice system.
Although we are moving in the right direction, there is still work to be done. Guardianship fraud needs to remain on the forefront of our conversation. I challenge all citizens to continue to advocate and to keep the focus on this imperative issue.
Anyone who suspects guardianship fraud can call our confidential hotline at (561) 355-FRAUD. Reports also can be made by email to fraud@mypalmbeachclerk.com, or online through the Clerk’s Guardianship Fraud Hotline page, at mypalmbeachclerk.com/fraud.