Probate is a court-supervised process for identifying and collecting a decedent’s assets, paying taxes, claims and expenses and distributing the decedents assets to his or her named beneficiaries.
Small Estates (Disposition Without Administration) are filed when no formal administration is necessary and no real property is involved, pursuant to Florida Statute 735.301.
Trusts are pursuant to Florida Statute 737.
Frequently Asked Questions for Estates
- QWhy is Probate Necessary?
- A
- Probate is necessary to wind up the affairs the decedent leaves behind. Probate
also serves to transfer assets from the decedent’s individual name to the proper
beneficiary.
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- QWhat are Probate Assets?
- A
- Generally, probate assets are those assets in the decedent’s name alone at the
time of death or owned solely with no named beneficiary or in-trust-for
provision.
- QWhat happens to the decedent’s assets if there is no will?
- AThe assets are distributed as follows: the surviving spouse; the surviving
spouse and lineal descendents; surviving parents; brothers and sisters and
descendants of any deceased brothers and sisters and descendants of any deceased
brothers and sisters. Certain exemptions exist for homestead property and
statutory family allowances.
- QWho has preference to be personal representative?
- A
The designated personal representative named in the decedent’s will or the named
successor. If the decedent did not leave a will, the surviving spouse has
preference, with second preference to the person selected by a majority in
interest of the heirs. The personal representative is required to have an
attorney.
- QHow do I find an attorney?
- A
- The Florida Bar has lawyer referral service at 1-800-342-8011.