Florida Fiduciary Accounting Formats (Rule 5.346)

How Summafolio formats it

Accountings for Florida are formatted to the structure of: Florida accounting (Fla. Prob. R. 5.346 / Fla. Stat. §736.08135).

Summary items I-VI with Income, Principal and Total columns, and Schedules A (Receipts), B (Disbursements), C (Distributions), D (Capital Transactions and Adjustments) and E (Assets on Hand at Close, carrying and current value), following the Appendix A model format to Fla. Prob. R. 5.346. Trust accountings include every element of Fla. Stat. §736.08135(2).

Sources:

Fla. Stat. §736.08135
Fla. Prob. R. 5.346 and Appendix A
Fla. Stat. ch. 738 (principal and income)
Fla. Stat. §733.617 (PR compensation)
Principal and income: Fla. Stat. ch. 738

Notes:

Rule 5.346 does not apply to guardian accountings.
Final trust accountings must include a plan of distribution for undistributed assets (§736.08135(2)(f)).

The format: Appendix A to Rule 5.346

Florida's Probate Rules include a model accounting. Rule 5.346 sets the contents and standards for accountings other than guardian accountings, and its Appendix A gives a model format. The committee notes describe the rule as substantially adopting the Uniform Fiduciary Accounting Principles and call Appendix A "only a suggested form". In practice it is the layout courts and beneficiaries expect to see:

Summary item	Schedule
I. Starting balance
II. Receipts	A
III. Disbursements	B
IV. Distributions	C
V. Capital transactions and adjustments	D
VI. Assets on hand at close of period	E

The summary has Income, Principal and Total columns. Schedule E shows each asset at carrying value, with current value alongside.

Trust accountings: §736.08135

A trustee of an irrevocable trust accounts at least annually, on termination and on a change of trustee, to each qualified beneficiary (Fla. Stat. §736.0813(1)(d)). While the trust is revocable, the trustee's duties are owed only to the settlor. A qualified beneficiary can waive accountings in writing and can withdraw the waiver. Our Florida trust accounting guide walks through a trustee's accounting step by step.

The accounting must be "a reasonably understandable report" that discloses the items in §736.08135(2): identification of the trust, the trustee and the period; all cash and property transactions, including compensation paid to the trustee and its agents, gains and losses, receipts and disbursements; assets on hand with two values (carrying value and estimated current value) and known liabilities; significant transactions that don't change the amount accountable; the allocation between income and principal where it affects a beneficiary; and, in a final accounting, a plan of distribution.

Estate accountings

Personal representatives use the same Rule 5.346 standards. Interim accountings follow Rule 5.345: objections are due within 30 days, and an interim accounting is deemed approved 30 days after service if nobody objects. The final accounting comes with the petition for discharge and a plan of distribution under Rule 5.400. The court can order an accounting under Rule 5.150. All four rules are in the official Florida Probate Rules.

Why the details matter: the six-month bar

Under §736.1008, a beneficiary's claim for breach of trust can be barred six months after receiving a trust disclosure document that adequately discloses the claim, together with a limitation notice. An accounting that leaves things out doesn't start that clock.

Statutory compensation

A personal representative's compensation is 3% of the first $1 million, 2.5% from $1 million to $5 million, 2% from $5 million to $10 million and 1.5% above $10 million, on the inventory value plus income earned (§733.617). Extraordinary services can add to it.

Principal and income

Chapter 738 is now the Florida Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (ch. 2024-216, Laws of Florida), effective January 1, 2025 (ch. 738). Rule 5.346 requires accountings to comply with it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Appendix A format mandatory?

The rule calls it a suggested form. The contents in Rule 5.346 and, for trusts, §736.08135 are what's required.

Does this apply to guardianships?

No. Rule 5.346 excludes guardian accountings.

Do subsequent accountings restart from zero?

No. Item I is the prior accounting's closing balance, including undistributed income.

Samples and next steps

Sample: Florida trust accounting15-page PDF and Excel workbook from a fictional matter.
Guide: Florida Trust Accounting: §736.08135 & Rule 5.346 ExplainedPlain-English explanation with citations.
Free template: Trust accounting template (annual account)Blank PDF and Excel. A template, not a court form.
PricingOne price per accounting, every export included.
How it worksFrom statements to a reconciled accounting.
All states and formatsCompare the 14 state formats and the uniform format.

Other states

No court has approved or endorsed Summafolio. Accountings are formatted to the structure of the sources cited above, and some courts require their own forms or local rules. This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current requirements with the statute, your court and an attorney licensed in your state.

Florida fiduciary accounting formats