CS/CS/HB 441—Effective July 1, 2021

Eldercaring Coordination

Florida is the first state in the nation to statutorily recognize eldercaring coordination, a court-ordered dispute resolution process for aging persons and their families that promotes respect for the voices, autonomy and safety of older adults. The new eldercaring coordination law resulted from a groundbreaking collaboration between the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the Association for Conflict Resolution. Learn more.

A court orders eldercaring coordination when it wants to ensure an aging person is safe and well cared for but believes the family conflicts that disagreements among family members may be jeopardizing those goals. The court may refer a family for eldercaring coordination when there are:

  • Multiple court motions raising non-legal issues or competing petitions for appointment as guardian or conservator.
  • Frequent disputes about unmeasurable or unsubstantiated issues.
  • Concerns about an aging person’s care and safety.
  • Possessive or controlling behaviors toward the aging person.
  • Imbalances of power where only some parties have legal representation.
  • When mediation has not been effective.