About North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc.
About Our Office
The North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. (NFOPG), serves adults with mental and/or physical disabilities as their court-appointed legal guardian. These persons are functionally impaired to the extent that they require the protection of court intervention. We are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with a volunteer board of directors made up of community members who are responsible for agency oversight and policy development.
Our History
In 1986, the Florida Legislature established NFOPG, the first public guardianship program in North Florida. NFOPG operated through the judicial system, serving Leon and six of its surrounding counties. In 2003, NFOPG became a private, not-for-profit, charitable organization with a local board of directors. Since then, NFOPG has expanded to serve 22 counties across the Florida Panhandle and increased the capacity to serve from 120 persons to 308 persons.
Mission & Purpose
The Mission and Purpose of NFOPG is to:
- Provide quality guardianship services to vulnerable adults who have no resources to obtain a guardian otherwise.
- Through guardianship services, enhance quality of life and protect against abuse, neglect and exploitation.
- To ensure every person’s voice is heard and each life is maximized to the fullest.
Oversight & Monitoring
North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc., is subject to oversight and monitoring by the Statewide Public Guardianship Office. Each guardianship case is subject to the authority of a circuit court judge. The judge and clerk of the court review annual reports that detail the personal plan of each ward and the fiscal accounting of each ward. Section 744.708, F.S., requires an independent audit of the program be performed at least every two years by a qualified, certified public accountant.
Office Locations & Counties Served
The North Florida Office of Public Guardian, Inc. Office Locations:
- Central Office – Tallahassee
- 14th Circuit Satellite Office – Panama City
- 4th Circuit Satellite Office – Jacksonville
We are currently serving the following counties:
Bay, Calhoun, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Taylor, Suwanee, Wakulla, and Washington.