Top-rated guardianship lawyers

What does a guardianship lawyer do?

A guardianship lawyer represents families and guardians in court cases to protect an adult who can no longer manage their affairs, or a minor, and represents people who oppose a guardianship or want their rights restored.

• Petitions to determine incapacity
• Guardianship of an aging parent
• Guardianship of a minor's property
• Guardian reports and accountings
• Contested guardianships
• Restoration of rights

When do you need a guardianship lawyer?

Talk to a guardianship lawyer when a family member can no longer make safe decisions and has no valid power of attorney, or as soon as you are served with a guardianship petition.

• A parent with dementia can no longer manage money or care
• A minor inherits money or property
• You were named guardian and must file reports
• You want to contest a guardianship or restore rights

Who are the best guardianship lawyers in Florida?

The statewide ranking lists the top 25 of the 545 guardianship lawyers LexRanked tracks in Florida, in order of their LexRank score. See the best guardianship lawyers in Florida.

Where can I find a guardianship lawyer in Florida?

Guardianship rankings cover 32 Florida cities; Miami has the most lawyers compared (55).

How much does a guardianship lawyer cost in Florida?

Guardianship lawyers usually bill by the hour. A lawyer who serves the ward, or the guardian on the ward's behalf, is entitled to a reasonable fee from the ward's estate, which the court reviews. Ask for an estimate in writing. Under The Florida Bar's rules, a lawyer who has not represented you before must explain the basis or rate of the fee and costs, preferably in writing, and no fee may be clearly excessive.

Florida guardianship rules to know

A Florida guardianship starts with a verified petition to determine incapacity, and the court-appointed guardian must report to the court within 60 days and file a plan every year; the ward keeps rights such as yearly review and restoration as soon as possible.

Are guardianship lawyers board certified in Florida?

No. Guardianship is not one of the fields in which The Florida Bar board-certifies lawyers, so LexRanked includes lawyers who list guardianship as a practice area on their Florida Bar profile. The lawyer adds that practice area, and The Florida Bar does not review it, so ask how much of the lawyer's work is guardianship. Lawyers in these rankings may still hold a board certification in a related field, which their profiles show. About 4.9% of Florida lawyers hold a board certification in any field.

How to choose a guardianship lawyer

Confirm the license in The Florida Bar's directory, then compare experience, certification and how often the lawyer handles cases like yours.

1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory: the license must show as eligible to practice, and public discipline is listed there.
2. Ask how much of the lawyer's work is guardianship: practice areas on a Florida Bar profile are added by the lawyer and are not reviewed by The Florida Bar.
3. Ask for the fee agreement in writing before work starts.
4. Ask: Is there an alternative to guardianship, such as a power of attorney?
5. Ask: How long will the case take?
6. Ask: What reports will I have to file each year?

How LexRanked ranks guardianship lawyers

By the LexRank score: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location, using only facts with a cited source. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Data checked November 2026 against each lawyer's Florida Bar profile. Payment never changes a position. See how we rank.

Sources

• Florida Statutes, section 744.3201 (petition to determine incapacity)
• Florida Statutes, section 744.309 (who may be appointed guardian)
• Florida Statutes, section 744.362 (initial guardianship report)
• Florida Statutes, section 744.367 (annual guardianship report)
• Florida Statutes, section 744.3215 (rights of persons determined incapacitated)
• Florida Statutes, section 744.108 (guardian and attorney fees)
• Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, Rule 4-1.5 (fees and costs for legal services)
• The Florida Bar: Find a Lawyer directory