Not taking new clients until late October 2026Mon–Fri 8a–6p67 FL counties
Florida Bar member · 9 years
probate.helpEST · SARASOTA · FLprobate.helpEST · SARASOTA · FL
Office line · current clients
941 · 548 · 7545
Text usJoin the waitlist
Florida probate · reference

Florida probate procedures

Florida probate is the court procedure that proves a will, appoints a personal representative when one is needed, and moves a decedent's property to the persons entitled to it. Circuit courts have exclusive original jurisdiction of proceedings relating to the settlement of the estates of decedents (§ 26.012(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2026)). Chapters 731 to 735 of the Florida Statutes are the Florida Probate Code (§ 731.005), and the Florida Probate Rules supply the procedure (Fla. Prob. R. 5.010 (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.)).

Four procedures cover most estates: summary administration, formal administration, ancillary administration and disposition without administration. The size of the estate, the time since death, the will and the decedent's state of domicile select the procedure.

Join the waitlist 941.548.7545
Procedures
By procedure
Each shows its clerk filing fee cap under § 28.2401.
Situations
By situation
Each lists the procedures that apply.
Guides
Recent guides
Sorted by date updated.
The procedures

Which procedure applies

Each cell cites the statute or rule that supplies it. Amounts are statutory limits and clerk fee caps.

Summary administrationFormal administrationAncillary administrationDisposition without administration
What it isAn order that distributes probate assets, with no letters of administration (§ 735.206(3)).Personal representative appointed; letters of administration; notice, inventory, claims, accounting, discharge (Fla. Prob. R. 5.235; Fla. Prob. R. 5.400).Florida administration of a nonresident decedent's Florida assets (§ 734.102(1)).Transfer of personal property by court letter, heir's affidavit or bank payment (§ 735.301; § 735.303; § 735.304).
Governing lawCh. 735, pt. I; Fla. Prob. R. 5.530.Ch. 733; Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 to Fla. Prob. R. 5.400.Ch. 734; Fla. Prob. R. 5.470 and Fla. Prob. R. 5.475.Ch. 735, pt. II; Fla. Prob. R. 5.420 and Fla. Prob. R. 5.425.
Value or time limitEstate subject to administration in Florida, less exempt property, of $150,000 or less, or a death more than 2 years ago (§ 735.201(2)).No limit. A qualifying estate may also be administered this way (§ 735.202).No limit for ancillary letters. Testate short form: $50,000 or less of Florida property at death (§ 734.1025).§ 735.301: final bills. § 735.304: $20,000 plus bills, intestate, death over 1 year ago. § 735.303: $2,000 in bank accounts, 6 months after death. § 735.302: $5,000 tax refund.
WillMust not direct administration as required by chapter 733 (§ 735.201(1)).Admitted to probate (Fla. Prob. R. 5.200(i) and (j)).Authenticated copy; admitted if it complies with Florida law (Fla. Prob. R. 5.470(a) and (c)).§ 735.304: intestate only. § 735.303: affiant knows of no will (§ 735.304(1); § 735.303(3)(e)).
DecedentResident or nonresident; the Florida estate counts (§ 735.201).Venue is the county of domicile (§ 733.101(1)(a)).Nonresident; venue is a county with the decedent's property (§ 733.101(1)(b)).No residence test in §§ 735.301 to 735.304.
Who filesA beneficiary or the person nominated in the will; spouse and beneficiaries sign (§ 735.203(1)).Any interested person (§ 733.202).Domiciliary or other qualified personal representative (§ 734.102(1)).Interested person; heir at law; family member; surviving spouse or child.
CreditorsDiligent search and service of the petition; publication optional (§ 735.206(2); § 735.2063).Published and served notice; claims due the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after service on a creditor who must be served (§ 733.2121; § 733.702(1)).Notice served and published unless claims are barred (§ 734.102(5)).§ 735.304: diligent search and provision for payment (§ 735.304(2)).
Court actionOrder of summary administration (Fla. Prob. R. 5.530(d)).Letters; later an order of discharge (Fla. Prob. R. 5.235; Fla. Prob. R. 5.400(e)).Ancillary letters; order of discharge (§ 734.102).Letter under the seal of the court for §§ 735.301 and 735.304; none for §§ 735.302 and 735.303.
Clerk fee cap$340, or $230 if under $1,000, plus $4 (§ 28.2401(1)(e), (f) and (3)).$395 plus $4 (§ 28.2401(1)(g) and (3)).$395 plus $4 (§ 28.2401(1)(g) and (3)).$230 for the court routes (§ 28.2401(1)(d)).
TimeNo statutory period.Claims due the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after service on a creditor who must be served (§ 733.702(1)); final accounting within 12 months after letters (Fla. Prob. R. 5.400(c)).If notice is published: claims due the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after service on a creditor who must be served (§ 733.702(1)).Bank: 6 months after death. Intestate affidavit: more than 1 year after death.
Choosing

Decision order

Answer the questions in order. Each result links to the page that lists the requirements and steps.

  1. Is the decedent's domicile outside Florida, with assets in Florida? Ancillary letters are available for those assets (§ 734.102(1)). Summary administration may also be had in a nonresident decedent's estate (§ 735.201), so apply the questions below to that estate as well. See Ancillary Administration.
  2. Does the estate consist only of personal property within a statutory limit? The four routes are in Disposition Without Administration: final bills (§ 735.301), an intestate estate up to $20,000 plus bills (§ 735.304), bank accounts up to $2,000 (§ 735.303) and a tax refund up to $5,000 (§ 735.302).
  3. Does the will direct administration as required by chapter 733? Then summary administration is unavailable and formal administration applies (§ 735.201(1)).
  4. Is the estate subject to administration in Florida, less exempt property, $150,000 or less, or has the decedent been dead more than 2 years? Summary administration is available (§ 735.201(2)). See Summary Administration.
  5. None of the above? The tests in § 735.201(2) are not met or the will directs administration, so the estate is administered under chapter 733 as formal administration. See Formal Administration. Protected homestead is handled by a separate petition (Determination of Homestead).
The sequence

Steps in a probate case

The table lists the common steps in order. The linked page gives the full rule, the deadline and who acts.

StepWhat happensAuthorityPage
Deposit the willThe will custodian deposits the original with the clerk within 10 days after learning of the death.§ 732.901(1)Formal Administration
Choose the procedureThe estate's value, the time since death, the will and the decedent's domicile decide it.§ 735.201Table above
File the petitionFiled with the clerk of the circuit court for the county of venue, with the clerk's fee.§ 733.101; § 28.2401(1)Each procedure page
Court order or lettersAn order of summary administration, letters of administration, ancillary letters, or a letter of the court.Fla. Prob. R. 5.530(d); Fla. Prob. R. 5.235Each procedure page
Notice of administrationThe personal representative serves the spouse, beneficiaries and others; objections to the will are due 3 months after service.§ 733.212Formal Administration
Notice to creditorsPublished once a week for 2 consecutive weeks; claims are due the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after service on a creditor who must be served.§ 733.2121; § 733.702(1)Formal Administration
InventoryFiled within 60 days after letters issue.Fla. Prob. R. 5.340(a)Formal Administration
Final accounting and dischargePetition for discharge within 12 months after letters unless extended; the court discharges the personal representative.Fla. Prob. R. 5.400; § 733.901Formal Administration
Law

2026 changes to the thresholds

Ch. 2026-57, Laws of Fla. (CS/HB 1337) took effect July 1, 2026 (section 14). The act text has no separate provision on which deaths it covers.

SectionSubjectAmount before the actAmount now
§ 735.201(2)Summary administration: estate value limitWas $75,000$150,000
§ 735.302Federal income tax refund payable to a spouse or childWas $2,500$5,000
§ 735.303Bank accounts paid to a family memberWas $1,000$2,000
§ 735.304Intestate small estate: nonexempt personal propertyWas $10,000$20,000

The act also revised the duties of a safe-deposit box lessor toward fiduciaries (§§ 655.933 and 655.936), created § 733.6125 on costs and attorney fees in proceedings to enforce a personal representative's authority, added § 733.612(28) and § 733.6171(4)(l), and revised § 733.603. See the 2026 summary administration change.

Authority

Statute and rule map

Where each topic sits in the Florida Statutes (2026) and the Florida Probate Rules.

TopicStatute or rulePlain-English pages
Definitions, notice, caveatsCh. 731, Fla. Stat. (2026); § 731.110 caveat; § 731.201 definitionsStatute library
Intestacy, wills, exempt property, homestead descent, will depositCh. 732, Fla. Stat. (2026); §§ 732.401, 732.402, 732.901Statute library
Administration: venue, personal representatives, notice, claims, accounting, dischargeCh. 733, Fla. Stat. (2026)Formal Administration
Ancillary administration and foreign personal representativesCh. 734, Fla. Stat. (2026)Ancillary Administration
Summary administrationCh. 735, pt. I, Fla. Stat. (2026)Summary Administration
Disposition without administrationCh. 735, pt. II, Fla. Stat. (2026)Disposition Without Administration
Clerk filing fees in probate§ 28.2401, Fla. Stat. (2026)Clerk fees by procedure
HomesteadArt. X, § 4, Fla. Const.; Fla. Prob. R. 5.405Determination of Homestead
Probate procedure: petition, notice, inventory, accounting, dischargeFla. Prob. R. 5.200 (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.); Fla. Prob. R. 5.241; Fla. Prob. R. 5.340; Fla. Prob. R. 5.400Formal Administration
Small-estate and ancillary rulesFla. Prob. R. 5.420; Fla. Prob. R. 5.425; Fla. Prob. R. 5.470; Fla. Prob. R. 5.475; Fla. Prob. R. 5.530Procedure pages above
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What court handles probate in Florida?+−
The circuit court. Circuit courts have exclusive original jurisdiction of proceedings relating to the settlement of the estates of decedents and the granting of letters (§ 26.012(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2026)). The case is filed with the clerk of the circuit court in the county of venue, usually the county where the decedent was domiciled (§ 733.101(1)).
What is the 10-day rule for probate in Florida?+−
The custodian of a will must deposit it with the clerk of the court having venue within 10 days after receiving information that the testator is dead (§ 732.901(1), Fla. Stat. (2026)). The clerk keeps the original at least 20 years (§ 732.901(4)). See Fla. Stat. 732.901.
Does every estate need probate in Florida?+−
No. Probate applies to the decedent's property that is the subject of administration (§ 731.201(14)). Chapter 735, part II lets certain personal property pass without opening an estate: bank accounts up to $2,000 (§ 735.303), an intestate estate with up to $20,000 of nonexempt personal property (§ 735.304), exempt property and final bills (§ 735.301) and a tax refund up to $5,000 (§ 735.302).
What is the probate threshold in Florida for 2026?+−
The summary administration limit is $150,000 of estate value subject to administration in Florida, less exempt property, or a death more than 2 years ago (§ 735.201(2)). The act that raised it from $75,000 took effect July 1, 2026 (Ch. 2026-57, § 7, Laws of Fla.).
Do I need a probate lawyer in Florida?+−
A personal representative must be represented by an attorney admitted to practice in Florida unless the personal representative remains the sole interested person (Fla. Prob. R. 5.030(a) (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.)). The rule applies to personal representatives. Summary administration ends in an order of summary administration, not letters (Fla. Prob. R. 5.530(d)). The statutes and rules cited on this site do not state whether a petitioner for summary administration or a small-estate route must be represented by an attorney. Ask the clerk of the circuit court or a Florida attorney.
Which Florida probate procedure should I use?+−
Use the decision order above. In brief: ancillary administration for a nonresident's Florida assets, disposition without administration for small amounts of personal property, summary administration for an estate of $150,000 or less (or a death more than 2 years ago) with a will that does not direct administration, and formal administration for everything else (§ 734.102(1); § 735.301; § 735.201; ch. 733).
Last checked: October 16, 2026

Sources

Each source below was read on the date shown. Statute links open the 2026 edition on the Florida Senate site. The Florida Probate Rules edition is the one the Florida Bar posted on October 15, 2026 (Florida Bar, Florida Rules of Court Procedure).

  1. § 26.012(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2026), Jurisdiction of circuit court. The Florida Senate. Circuit courts hear probate proceedings.
  2. § 731.005, Fla. Stat. (2026), Short title. The Florida Senate. Chapters 731 to 735 are the Florida Probate Code.
  3. § 731.201(14), Fla. Stat. (2026), General definitions. The Florida Senate. Definition of estate. Plain-English page on this site.
  4. § 732.901, Fla. Stat. (2026), Production of wills. The Florida Senate. 10-day will deposit; 20-year retention. Plain-English page on this site.
  5. § 733.101, Fla. Stat. (2026), Venue of probate proceedings. The Florida Senate. Venue. Plain-English page on this site.
  6. § 733.202, Fla. Stat. (2026), Petition. The Florida Senate. Any interested person may petition for administration.
  7. § 733.212, Fla. Stat. (2026), Notice of administration; filing of objections. The Florida Senate. Notice of administration; 3-month objection period. Plain-English page on this site.
  8. § 733.2121, Fla. Stat. (2026), Notice to creditors; filing of claims. The Florida Senate. Publication and service of the notice to creditors. Plain-English page on this site.
  9. § 733.702, Fla. Stat. (2026), Limitations on presentation of claims. The Florida Senate. Claims period. Plain-English page on this site.
  10. § 733.901, Fla. Stat. (2026), Final discharge. The Florida Senate. Discharge.
  11. § 733.6125, Fla. Stat. (2026), Proceedings to enforce authority. The Florida Senate. Created by ch. 2026-57.
  12. § 734.102, Fla. Stat. (2026), Ancillary administration. The Florida Senate. Ancillary administration of a nonresident decedent's Florida assets. Plain-English page on this site.
  13. § 734.1025, Fla. Stat. (2026), Nonresident decedent’s testate estate with property not exceeding $50,000 in this state; determination of claims. The Florida Senate. Testate short form.
  14. § 735.201, Fla. Stat. (2026), Summary administration; nature of proceedings. The Florida Senate. Summary administration eligibility: $150,000 or 2 years. Plain-English page on this site.
  15. § 735.202, Fla. Stat. (2026), May be administered in the same manner as other estates. The Florida Senate. Formal administration is always available.
  16. § 735.203, Fla. Stat. (2026), Petition for summary administration. The Florida Senate. Who files and signs a summary administration petition.
  17. § 735.2063, Fla. Stat. (2026), Notice to creditors. The Florida Senate. Optional publication after the order of summary administration.
  18. § 735.206, Fla. Stat. (2026), Summary administration distribution. The Florida Senate. Order of summary administration; creditor search.
  19. § 735.301, Fla. Stat. (2026), Disposition without administration. The Florida Senate. Exempt property and final-bill route. Plain-English page on this site.
  20. § 735.302, Fla. Stat. (2026), Income tax refunds in certain cases. The Florida Senate. Tax refund of $5,000 or less.
  21. § 735.303, Fla. Stat. (2026), Payment to successor without court proceedings. The Florida Senate. Bank accounts up to $2,000.
  22. § 735.304, Fla. Stat. (2026), Disposition without administration of intestate property in small estates. The Florida Senate. Intestate small-estate route up to $20,000.
  23. § 733.603, Fla. Stat. (2026), Personal representative to proceed without court order. The Florida Senate. Revised by s. 3, ch. 2026-57.
  24. § 733.612(28), Fla. Stat. (2026), Transactions authorized for the personal representative; exceptions. The Florida Senate. Subsection (28) added by s. 4, ch. 2026-57. Plain-English page on this site.
  25. § 733.6171(4)(l), Fla. Stat. (2026), Compensation of attorney for the personal representative. The Florida Senate. Paragraph (4)(l) added by s. 6, ch. 2026-57. Plain-English page on this site.
  26. Ch. 731, Fla. Stat. (2026), Probate Code: general provisions. The Florida Senate. Definitions, notice, caveats.
  27. Ch. 732, Fla. Stat. (2026), Probate Code: intestate succession and wills. The Florida Senate. Intestacy, wills, exempt property, homestead descent, will deposit.
  28. Ch. 733, Fla. Stat. (2026), Probate Code: administration of estates. The Florida Senate. Venue, personal representatives, notice, claims, accounting, discharge.
  29. Ch. 734, Fla. Stat. (2026), Probate Code: foreign personal representatives; ancillary administration. The Florida Senate. Ancillary administration and foreign personal representatives.
  30. Ch. 735, pt. I, Fla. Stat. (2026), Summary administration. The Florida Senate. Summary administration, ss. 735.201-735.2063.
  31. Ch. 735, pt. II, Fla. Stat. (2026), Disposition of personal property without administration. The Florida Senate. Disposition of personal property without administration, ss. 735.301-735.304.
  32. § 28.2401, Fla. Stat. (2026), Service charges and filing fees in probate matters. The Florida Senate. Clerk filing fee caps.
  33. Ch. 2026-57, Laws of Fla., CS/HB 1337, An act relating to estates. Florida Department of State, Laws of Florida. Changes the four thresholds and takes effect July 1, 2026.
  34. Art. X, § 4, Fla. Const., Homestead; exemptions. The Florida Senate, Florida Constitution. Homestead exemption.
  35. Fla. Prob. R. 5.010, Scope. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). The Probate Rules govern probate and guardianship procedure.
  36. Fla. Prob. R. 5.030, Attorneys. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). Attorney required unless the personal representative is the sole interested person.
  37. Fla. Prob. R. 5.200, Petition for administration. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). Contents of the petition for administration.
  38. Fla. Prob. R. 5.235, Issuance of letters, bond. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). Appointment and letters.
  39. Fla. Prob. R. 5.340, Inventory. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). Inventory within 60 days after letters.
  40. Fla. Prob. R. 5.400, Distribution and discharge. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). Final accounting and discharge.
  41. Fla. Prob. R. 5.530, Summary administration. The Florida Bar, Florida Probate Rules (Oct. 15, 2026 ed.). Petition and order for summary administration.

General information, not legal advice. The official text controls. Disclaimer.

Intake paused · reopens late October 2026

You're going to get through this.

Rachel is not accepting new clients until late October 2026. Every guide, calculator, county page, and statute page here stays free. Leave your details and we'll call when intake reopens — or, if your matter can't wait, The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service refers you to another Florida attorney taking cases now.

Join the waitlist Bar referral 800-342-8011
Florida Bar #127500RPPTL SectionSarasota Bar AssociationFL Assoc. Women Lawyers