4 Steps To Take When Administering A Probate Estate In Florida

Probate estate administration is the legal process used to distribute a person’s estate (i.e. property and possessions) after they die. There are a number of rules and procedures that must be followed to administer an estate and many things to do before a decedent’s property can be distributed to his or her heirs. Here are four (4) steps to take when administering a probate estate in Florida. 

1. Hire an Attorney: The first thing a Florida personal representative should do is hire an experienced probate lawyer. Florida law requires a personal representative to hire a probate administration lawyer. In Florida, the probate attorney who opens the estate represents the personal representative — not the beneficiaries —in the probate proceedings.

2. Gather All Assets: The personal representative must locate and take control of the decedent’s probate assets such as (not limited to):

• Bank and other financial accounts

• Life insurance policies (when no beneficiary is designated)

• Computer passwords

• Keys to the house

• Checkbooks

• Real estate

• And more.

1. Give Notice of Administration Proceedings: The personal representative must provide notice of the proceedings to anyone who may have an interest in them. 

2. Prepare an Inventory and Accounting: The final accounting must provide details of the estate administration. This includes (but is not limited to) providing details regarding:

• All estate assets

• All distributions made

• Costs of probate

• All out-of-pocket expenses

• All fees paid

• All taxes paid

For more information, contact our office at Askew & Associates, P.A. by calling 954-546-2699.

Disclaimer: this blog post is not intended to be legal advice. We highly recommend speaking to an attorney if you have any legal concerns.