Opening and closing a Florida estate.
Probate is the court process that moves what someone owned to the people entitled to it. We file it, answer the creditors, and get the estate to a final order.
The work inside a probate file.
Most estates fall into one of two tracks. Formal administration is the standard path and requires a personal representative. Summary administration is available for smaller estates and moves faster. We tell you which one fits at the first meeting, then handle the filings from there.
Formal administration
Summary administration
Creditor claims
Homestead and real property
Ancillary probate
For out-of-state residents who owned Florida property. Filed here, coordinated with the home state.
Estate accounting
Inventory, receipts, and the final accounting the court needs before it will close the file.
Four stages, start to final order.
First meeting
Petition and appointment
We file the petition, get letters of administration issued, and open the estate account.
Notice and claims
Distribution and closing
Questions we hear in the first call.
If yours is not here, call the office. A person who works on probate files will answer.
Does every estate have to go through probate?
No. Assets with a named beneficiary, joint accounts, and property held in a trust pass outside of probate. What is left in the person’s own name is usually what we file on.
Who can serve as personal representative?
A Florida resident, or certain close relatives who live out of state. The will names a preference, and the court appoints once the paperwork is filed.
What do you need from me to start?
The original will if there is one, a certified death certificate, and a rough list of accounts and property. We work from there.
How long does probate take in Florida?
It depends on the county, the creditors, and whether anyone contests. A straightforward formal administration runs about (ART TO CONFIRM WITH AARON).
Can probate be handled without a court hearing?
Often, yes. Most of a routine administration happens through filings and correspondence. We tell you in advance if a hearing is set.
The probate group.
Aaron W. Saoud, Esq.
Jesse Brodsky, Esq.
Brittney Tedder
