PER CURIAM.
In response to recent legislation, The Florida Bar's Probate Rules Committee (Committee) has filed an out-of-cycle, fast-track report proposing amendments to the Florida Probate Rules.
Rule 5.240 (Notice of Administration), subdivision (b)(3) (Contents), currently requires that the Notice of Administration advise any interested person that he or she must file any objections challenging the validity of the will, the qualifications of the personal representative, the venue, or the court's jurisdiction within the time required by law, or those objections will be forever barred. The rule is amended to delete the phrase "the qualifications of the personal representative." See ch.2015-27, § 2, Laws of Fla. (amending section 733.212, Florida Statutes, to delete the phrase "the qualifications of the personal representative"). We also amend subdivision (b)(3) to state that any objection challenging the validity of the will, the venue, or the jurisdiction of the court must be filed on or before the date which is three months after the Notice of Administration is served on the interested person. Additionally, we add new language providing that the three-month period may only be extended for estoppel based on a misstatement by the personal representative as to the time period to file the objection, and not for any other reason. Unless sooner barred by section 733.212(3), Florida Statutes, any objections to the validity of a will, venue, or jurisdiction must be filed no later than the entry of an order of final discharge of the personal representative, or one year after service of the Notice of Administration, whichever date occurs earlier. Id. Subdivision (d) (Objections) of rule 5.240 is also amended to delete language in the rule addressing objections to the qualifications of the personal representative.
Next, rule 5.310 (Disqualification of Personal Representative; Notification) is amended to delete existing language in the rule authorizing a personal representative who was not qualified to act at the time of the appointment to file and serve notice as set forth in the rule. As amended, rule 5.310 requires that a personal representative, who was qualified at the time of the appointment, but who knows that he or she would not be qualified if the appointment were then made, to promptly file and serve notice on interested persons. See ch.2015-27, § 4, Laws of Fla. (amending section 733.3101, Florida Statutes, to require the personal representative to resign
We amend rule 5.648 (Emergency Temporary Guardian), subdivision (b) (Notice), to provide that notice of filing a petition for appointment of an emergency temporary guardian and a hearing on the petition must be served on the alleged incapacitated person or his or her attorney at least twenty-four hours before the hearing is commenced, unless the petition demonstrates that substantial harm to the alleged incapacitated person would occur if notice is given. See ch.2015-83, § 6, Laws of Fla. (amending section 744.3031, Florida Statutes, to require that notice of filing a petition for appointment of an emergency temporary guardian must be served on the alleged incapacitated person twenty-four hours before a hearing on the petition, unless the twenty-four-hour notice period would result in harm to the alleged incapacitated person).
We also amend rule 5.695 (Annual Guardianship Reports) to conform to legislative changes to section 744.367, Florida Statutes, made by chapter 2015-83, section 16, Laws of Florida, amending the timeframe in which the guardian of a person is required to file an annual guardianship report with the court. The Committee indicates in its report that it believes the amendments to section 744.367 are procedural in nature and may be confusing to some readers and filers. However, in the alternative, it proposed language to amend rule 5.695, consistent with the legislative change, to require the guardian of a person to file the annual guardianship report at least 60 days, but not more than 90 days, before the last day of the anniversary month when the letters of guardianship were signed (if the court requires reporting on a calendar-year basis). Although we adopt the Committee's alternate proposal and amend rule 5.695, we invite interested persons to provide comments on the amended rule.
Finally, we amend rule 5.705 (Petition for Interim Judicial Review), subdivision (a) (Contents), to provide that a petition for interim judicial review may allege that the guardian is acting in a manner contrary to section 744.361, Florida Statutes. See ch.2015-83, § 15 and § 18, Laws of Fla. (amending section 744.361, Florida Statutes, to add additional powers and duties of a guardian acting on behalf of a ward, and section 744.3715, Florida Statutes, to provide that a petition for interim judicial review may allege that the guardian is acting contrary to any of the powers and duties outlined in section 744.361, or that the guardian is denying visitation between the ward and his or her relatives in violation of section 744.361(13)).
Accordingly, the Florida Probate Rules are hereby amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion. New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are indicated by struck-through type. The committee notes are offered for explanation only and are not adopted as an official part of the rules. The amendments shall become effective immediately upon release of this opinion. Because the amendments
It is so ordered.
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, and PERRY, JJ., concur.
(1)-(2) [No Change]
(3) a trustee of any trust described in section 733.707(3), Florida Statutes, and each qualified beneficiary of the trust as defined in section 736.0103(16),
(4) [No Change]
in the manner provided for service of formal notice. The personal representative may similarly serve a copy of the notice on any devisee under another will or heirs or others who claim or may claim an interest in the estate.
(1)-(2) [No Change]
(3) that any interested person on whom the notice who challenges the validity of the will, the qualifications of the personal representative,must file any objections with the court in the manner provided in the Florida Probate Rules within the time required by law or those objections are forever barred
(4)-(5) [No Change]
Objections to the qualifications of the personal representative shall follow the form and procedure set forth in these rules pertaining to removal of a personal representative.Objections to the venue or jurisdiction of the court shall follow the form and procedure set forth in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.
1977-2013 Revisions [No Change]
[No Change]
[No Change]
Any notqualified to act at the time of appointmentor who would not be qualified for appointment if application for appointment were then made shall immediately file and serve on all interested personsdescribing
(a) the reason the personal representative was not qualified at the time of appointment; or
(b)the reason
The personal representative's notice shall statethat any interested person may
Notification under this rule or section 733.3101
1975-2002 Revisions [No Change]
[No Change]
Fla. Prob. R. 5.040 Notice.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.430 Resignation of personal representative.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.440 Proceedings for removal.
Unless the court orders otherwise, nanyhearing on the petition shallbefore the hearing on the petitionon the alleged incapacitated person and on the alleged incapacitated person's attorney
2007 Revision: [No Change]
[No Change]
[No Change]
within 90afterissuedshall be forreporting on acalendarbasisshallbefore April 1 of each year
1975-2012 Revisions [No Change]
[No Change]
[No Change]
or proposed action
1991 — 2008 Revisions [No Change]
§ 393.12, Fla. Stat. Capacity; appointment of guardian advocate.
§ 744.3715, Fla. Stat. Petition for interim judicial review.