About Us

The following people currently serve on our chapter board:

Blake Caldwell

Melissa Earle

Taquisha Joyner-Stokes

Lana Kepler

Mark Midyett

Ashley Peters

Bryan Roberts

Maria Rodriguez-Gnos

Danielle Valery

Tammy Wilson
Renee Wright

The Gulf Coast FSGA is a chapter of the Florida State Guardianship Association(FSGA). It is a not-for-profit organization pursuant to Chapter 617 of the Florida Statute.

We are a group of community stakeholders including guardians, care managers, attorneys, family members, support service agencies, and other allies committed to :

• Promoting public and professional education to further the exchange of professional knowledge for the benefit of guardians and wards.
• Advocating for policies that benefit wards and practice of Guardianship.
• Developing a Statewide Guardianship Network.
• Assisting in the development of FSGA Chapters.
• Promoting a broader understanding and acceptance of the qualified guardian as an integral part of the judicial system.

The corporation has federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. There is a volunteer board of directors composed of community members who are responsible for policy development and direction.   This Association is formed solely and exclusively for the improvement of guardianship services and is not organized for, and shall not be operated, for pecuniary gain or profit. No part of the net earnings, if any, of this Association shall ever inure to the benefit of any member of this Association or any private individual. The properties of this Association shall not at any time be used or operated so as to benefit any officer, trustee, director, member, employee, contributor, or bond holder of this Association or any other person through the distribution of profits, payment of excessive charges or compensation or the more advantageous pursuit of the business or profession of such person or persons. The properties of this Association shall at all times be used for the improvement of guardianship services or for uses which are clearly incidental and auxiliary and are hereby irrevocably dedicated to the improvement of guardianship service purposes.

A guardian is a surrogate decision-maker appointed by the court to make either personal and/or financial decisions for a minor or for an adult with mental or physical disabilities. After adjudication, the subject of the guardianship is termed a "ward."

Florida law requires the court to appoint a guardian for minors in circumstances where the parents die or become incapacitated, or if a child receives an inheritance or proceeds of a lawsuit or insurance policy exceeding the amount allowed by statute.

Adult guardianship is the process by which the court finds an individual's ability to make decisions so impaired that the court gives the right to make decisions to another person. Guardianship is only warranted when no less restrictive alternative—such as durable power of attorney, trust, health care surrogate or proxy, or other form of pre-need directive—is found by the court to be appropriate and available.

Florida law allows both voluntary and involuntary guardianships. A voluntary guardianship may be established for an adult who, though mentally competent, is incapable of managing his or her own estate and who voluntarily petitions for the appointment.