If you're bringing a lawsuit against the dead person in Florida, if you're seeking damages from a dead person, don't sue the “estate.” You have to sue the named personal representative of the deceased Florida resident's estate. They are appointed by the court after the petition for administration is filed.
You, the plaintiff, must file a “Statement of Claim” form, available at your Clerk's office. This must be fully completed and signed to receive a pre-trial conference date. If your claim is based upon written documentation, attach a copy of the contract to the Statement of Claim form. You may file by mail or in person.
In Florida, the statute of limitations for most personal injury lawsuits, including car accident claims, was recently reduced from four years to two years. This means you now have only two years from the date of the accident to file your claim. For wrongful death cases, the time limit remains two years.
Florida Probate Rule 5.490 requires that the Claim be filed in duplicate with one copy containing an original signature. The clerk will send a copy of the claim to the Attorney for the Personal Representative.
Unknown creditors must file their claims within the 90-day window following the publication of the notice. Note that all claims against an estate are barred two years after the decedent's date of death, regardless of whether a probate proceeding has been initiated or a Notice to Creditors has been published.
You, the plaintiff, must file a “Statement of Claim” form, available at your Clerk's office. This must be fully completed and signed to receive a pre-trial conference date. If your claim is based upon written documentation, attach a copy of the contract to the Statement of Claim form. You may file by mail or in person.
Submit your claim directly to the probate court and serve a copy on the personal representative. If you file a formal claim and the personal representative rejects it, you can file suit against the estate within three months of the rejection.
Filing a claim against an estate is a fairly simple process: In the claim, you'll state under oath that the debt is owed and provide details on the amount of the debt and any payments the decedent made. If you have written documentation, you can attach it to your claim.
The statement of claim should be typed or printed in black ink. Make certain you file your claim against the right party. Copies of contracts, notes, leases, receipts, or other evidence in support of your claim must be attached to your statement of claim, and copied to each person sued and the court.
An objection to a claim, other than a personal representative's proof of claim, shall be in writing and filed on or before the expiration of 4 months from the first publication of notice to creditors or within 30 days from the timely filing or amendment of the claim, whichever occurs later.