Florida Letters of Guardianship and Certified Copies of a Custody Order

The judge signed your order. Now what? A signed custody or guardianship order sitting in the court file doesn't help you at the school enrollment desk or the pediatrician's office. You need certified copies — and if you went through Chapter 744 probate guardianship, you need letters of guardianship as well.

Letters of Guardianship vs. Certified Copies: Two Different Documents

These terms get confused constantly, and using the wrong one at the wrong office creates delays.

Letters of Guardianship are issued only in Chapter 744 probate guardianship cases. They're a separate document from the guardianship order itself — a formal credential from the Probate Division confirming that you have been appointed as the child's legal guardian and specifying the scope of your authority (person, property, or both). Think of them as your guardianship ID card. Banks, brokerage firms, and insurance companies typically require letters of guardianship specifically because they verify your ongoing authority to manage the child's assets.

Certified copies of a court order are authenticated copies of the judge's signed order — stamped by the Clerk of Court with the official seal, confirming the copy is a true and complete reproduction of the original. A certified copy documents your court-ordered authority. You can get certified copies of any court order: a Chapter 751 temporary custody order, a Chapter 744 guardianship order, or a Chapter 39 permanent guardianship order.

If you went through Chapter 751 for temporary or concurrent custody, you don't get "letters of guardianship" — request certified copies of the custody order. Ask each institution whether it needs additional documents.

How to Get Certified Copies

Go to the Clerk of Court in the county where your case was filed. You can request certified copies:

• At the clerk's window — bring your case number and photo ID
• By mail — send a written request with your case number, the specific order you need copied, and a check for the fees
• Through the clerk's online portal (available in some counties)

The fee is typically $1.00 per page plus a $2.00 certification fee per document. A four-page custody order costs about $6.00 per certified copy.

How Many Copies to Get

Order more than you think you'll need. Each institution typically keeps the copy you give them, and you can't always get them back. A practical minimum:

• 1 copy for the child's school (enrollment and records)
• 1 copy for the child's pediatrician or primary care provider
• 1 copy for health insurance enrollment (Medicaid, KidCare, or private)
• 1 copy for DCF ACCESS Florida if applying for Child-Only TCA, SNAP, or Medicaid
• 1 copy for the Social Security Administration if the child receives benefits
• 1 copy for your personal records at home
• 1-2 extra copies for situations you haven't anticipated (summer camp enrollment, travel authorization, a second medical provider)

That's seven to eight copies. At roughly $6 each, budget about $50 for certified copies. It's a small cost compared to making repeat trips to the clerk's office.

Where You'll Present Them

Schools: A certified copy of your Chapter 751 order or Chapter 744 letters of guardianship documents your authority when you enroll the child. Ask the school what other enrollment records it needs; a court order does not replace the school's ordinary enrollment requirements.

Medical providers: A certified copy of the custody or guardianship order documents your authority to consent to care. Ask the provider whether it needs additional forms. In some circumstances, Florida Statute Section 743.0645 allows a relative to use a healthcare authorization form.

Benefits offices: Bring a certified copy when you apply through DCF ACCESS Florida, the Social Security Administration, or KidCare. Each program decides what documentation it requires, and the custody order may need to be accompanied by other records.

Banks and financial institutions: If you're managing the child's assets under a Chapter 744 guardianship of the property, ask the institution whether it requires Letters of Guardianship, a certified copy of the order, or both. Call ahead to ask whether it requires recently issued letters.

Keeping Your Documents Current

A Chapter 751 temporary custody order remains in effect until the child turns 18, a parent successfully petitions for modification, or the court terminates it. You don't need to renew it annually.

Letters of guardianship under Chapter 744 stay valid as long as the guardianship is active, but you must file annual reports (Annual Accounting for property, Annual Guardianship Plan for person). Missing these reports can result in the court suspending your authority — which effectively invalidates your letters until the reports are filed and accepted.

If your order is later modified — say, the court expands your authority or changes visitation terms — get certified copies of the amended order to replace the originals you've distributed.

The Florida guardianship and custody guide includes a post-order action checklist covering exactly where to present your certified copies, what each institution requires, and how to handle common pushback.

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