Professional Fiduciary Services for Veterans in Florida and Georgia
VA-appointed. Accountable to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Serving veterans across Florida and Georgia.
Elizabeth Williams Winfield, Esq. — VA-Appointed Professional Fiduciary
Elizabeth Williams Winfield is a VA-appointed professional fiduciary who has completed the Department of Veterans Affairs vetting process and has been appointed to manage benefit disbursements on behalf of veterans across the Southeast. She is a member of the Academy of VA Pension Planners and the National Guardianship Association — professional memberships that reflect her ongoing engagement with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing veteran fiduciary appointments.
As a VA-appointed fiduciary, Elizabeth is accountable not to the veteran's family or to the firm — she is accountable to the Department of Veterans Affairs, which monitors fiduciary conduct, reviews annual accountings, and retains the authority to remove a fiduciary for cause. That structure exists to protect the veteran. It is how this service is supposed to work.
This service covers veterans in both Florida — serving St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast from our Port St. Lucie office — and Georgia — serving Fayette County and surrounding counties from our Fayetteville office.
What This Service Is — and What It Is Not
A VA-appointed fiduciary manages and disburses existing VA benefit payments on behalf of a veteran who has been determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to need fiduciary assistance. The fiduciary receives the veteran's benefit payments, manages and budgets those funds in the veteran's best interest, and submits required accounting reports to the VA.
This service is not benefits claims representation. It is not VA appeals. It is not assistance filing for VA disability ratings or pension benefits. Those services are discontinued firm-wide. If a veteran or family member contacts Peachtree Fiduciary about a new VA claim or a VA appeals matter, we will let you know that is outside our scope and point you toward appropriate resources.
If the VA has determined that your family member needs a fiduciary, or if a VA case manager has recommended professional fiduciary placement, this is the service you are looking for.
How the VA Fiduciary Process Works
Step 1:
The VA determines the veteran needs a fiduciary
A VA fiduciary appointment typically follows a VA rating or competency determination — a finding by the VA that a veteran is unable to manage their own financial affairs due to injury, illness, mental health condition, or age. The VA initiates the fiduciary process; the veteran or their family does not apply for it separately.
Step 2:
VA field examination
The VA conducts a field examination — an in-person interview with the proposed fiduciary — to assess their suitability, financial responsibility, and capacity to act in the veteran's best interest. Elizabeth Williams Winfield has completed this process and is an appointed fiduciary for veterans across the Southeast.
Step 3:
Fiduciary appointment
After completing the field examination and background review, the VA formally appoints the fiduciary. The appointment authorizes the fiduciary to receive and manage the veteran's benefit payments on their behalf.
Step 4:
Ongoing benefit management and annual reporting
Once appointed, the fiduciary receives the veteran's VA benefit payments, manages and budgets those funds for the veteran's needs, and submits annual accounting reports to the VA documenting how funds were used. The VA reviews those accountings and monitors fiduciary conduct throughout the appointment.
Step 5:
VA oversight and accountability
The VA retains authority over the fiduciary relationship. If a fiduciary fails to act in the veteran's best interest, mismanages funds, or fails to file required reports, the VA can remove them and appoint a successor. This ongoing oversight is the central accountability mechanism that protects the veteran.
Who This Service Is For
Veterans and their families — if the VA has notified you that your family member needs a professional fiduciary, or if a VA rating has triggered a fiduciary referral, Peachtree Fiduciary can step in. Elizabeth Williams Winfield has completed the VA's vetting process and is ready to be appointed. You do not need to find a fiduciary who has never worked with the VA before.
VA case managers and referring professionals — if you are a VA case manager, veterans service officer, or other professional who needs to refer a veteran to a professional fiduciary in Florida or Georgia, Peachtree Fiduciary is VA-appointed and active in both states. Referrals are handled with the documentation and process rigor the VA requires.
Phone: (888) 253-6148 — Peachtree Fiduciary & Guardianship Services
Common Questions About VA Fiduciary Services
How does the VA determine that a veteran needs a fiduciary?
The VA initiates a fiduciary referral when it determines — typically through a rating decision or a competency evaluation — that a veteran is unable to manage their VA benefit payments due to injury, illness, mental health condition, or cognitive decline. The VA may also initiate a fiduciary referral based on a report from a family member, a treating physician, or a VA employee who has observed that the veteran cannot manage their own finances. The veteran does not apply for fiduciary services — the VA identifies the need and starts the process.
What does a VA fiduciary actually do?
A VA fiduciary receives the veteran's VA benefit payments on their behalf, manages and budgets those funds for the veteran's current and future needs, pays bills and expenses from those funds in the veteran's best interest, and submits annual accounting reports to the VA documenting every transaction. The fiduciary does not make medical decisions, legal decisions, or personal care decisions on the veteran's behalf — those are separate roles. The fiduciary's authority is limited to managing the VA benefit payments the VA has directed to them.
Can I choose my own VA fiduciary?
You can propose a fiduciary — a family member, friend, or professional — and the VA will vet that person through its field examination process. The VA makes the final appointment decision. If no suitable person is available or willing to serve, or if the VA's field examination reveals concerns about the proposed fiduciary, the VA may appoint a professional fiduciary. If you are aware that your family member will need a professional fiduciary and want to propose Peachtree Fiduciary & Guardianship Services, call our direct line at (888) 253-6148.
How does a VA fiduciary differ from a power of attorney?
A power of attorney is a legal document that the veteran creates voluntarily while they have the capacity to do so — it authorizes a trusted person to act on their behalf across a range of financial and legal matters. A VA fiduciary appointment is initiated by the VA, not the veteran, and is specifically limited to managing VA benefit payments. The two serve different purposes and operate under different legal frameworks. A veteran who has a power of attorney in place may still require a VA fiduciary if the VA determines they cannot manage their benefit payments — the two appointments are not mutually exclusive.
Does the VA fiduciary process apply in both Florida and Georgia?
Yes. The VA fiduciary program is a federal program administered nationwide. Elizabeth Williams Winfield's appointment as a VA fiduciary applies across jurisdictions — she serves veterans in both Florida, primarily St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast, and Georgia, primarily Fayette County and surrounding counties. For referrals or inquiries in either state, call (888) 253-6148.
Peachtree Fiduciary & Guardianship Services LLC provides VA-appointed professional fiduciary services for veterans in Florida and Georgia. Elizabeth Williams Winfield is a VA-appointed fiduciary who has completed the Department of Veterans Affairs field examination process and serves veterans across the Southeast. She is a member of the Academy of VA Pension Planners and the National Guardianship Association. Peachtree Fiduciary manages and disburses existing VA benefit payments — it does not provide VA claims representation or appeals services. For referrals and inquiries, call (888) 253-6148 or visit the
Peachtree Fiduciary Services page.