ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY FOR CERTAIN PROBATE PROCEEDINGS, ONLY AN ATTORNEY CAN GIVE LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU CHOOSE TO PROCEED WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, AT ANY TIME IN YOUR CASE YOU MAY OPT TO HIRE ONE.
Q: Who Becomes Executor if There Is No Will in Florida? A: If there is no will, the court appoints a personal representative based on Florida's priority system, typically beginning with the spouse. If the spouse does not wish to take on the burden, then adult children are prioritized, and then other family members.
You'll need to file the necessary documents with the local probate court where the decedent resided in Florida. Once approved by a judge, they issue Letters of Administration certifying your role as estate administrator to third parties, including banks.
You'll have to file a request in the county where the deceased person lived at the time of their death. The paperwork will ask for you to be officially acknowledged as the legal executor representing the estate. In addition to the petition, you'll need to file a valid will, if one exists, and the death certificate.
Probate in Florida can take several months to over a year, depending on the estate's size and any disputes among heirs. Understanding the Florida probate timeline is crucial as the process begins with filing a petition with the probate court, followed by appointing a personal representative to manage the estate.
You'll need to file the necessary documents with the local probate court where the decedent resided in Florida. Once approved by a judge, they issue Letters of Administration certifying your role as estate administrator to third parties, including banks.
The personal representative will settle the estate's affairs by paying debts and taxes owed, locating and appraising all assets, and meeting all court deadlines. At the end of probate, the judge will distribute the estate's assets based on state law, since there is no will to provide instructions.
A: There isn't a set timeline for probate without a will in Florida. It generally varies widely depending on the complexity of the estate. In some cases, probate can be completed in a few months, but more complex estates may take a year or longer, especially if disputes or legal complications arise.
How can I transfer property after death without a will in Florida? If the controlling deed does not contain life estate language, then the only way to transfer property without a will is by either a summary administration or by a formal probate administration based on Florida's intestacy law.