Can the PR be out of state?

Sometimes. Florida requires the PR to be either a Florida resident OR a close relative (spouse, sibling, parent, child, etc.) of the decedent. We can also serve as PR ourselves where it makes sense — it's a flat add-on fee and saves family members the responsibility.

What if the will is contested?

We handle uncontested probate. If a will contest is filed (rare — under 1% of cases), we refer to a litigation specialist we trust and continue handling the administration around it. You're not back to square one.

Do all heirs have to come to Florida?

Almost never. Everything signs electronically. We've closed estates where heirs were spread across the US and Europe. The PR signs more documents than anyone else — and even that is usually e-sign.

How long does it really take?

6 to 12 months from petition to discharge for a typical case. The 90-day creditor window is the floor — nothing closes faster than that. Estates with real estate sales or tax filings can run 9–15 months. We give you a realistic timeline at the consult, not a sales pitch.

← Florida Probate

Estates over $150,000 or with active disputes

Formal Administration

Larger estates. Full PR appointment, accounting, court oversight.

Formal administration is the full Florida probate proceeding — the path most people picture when they hear the word "probate." It's required for estates over $150,000 in non-exempt assets (the threshold for deaths on or after July 1, 2026; over $75,000 for earlier deaths), and for any estate where the work is complex enough that a court-appointed personal representative needs to manage it for several months.

Larger estate doesn't have to mean harder experience. We handle formal administrations the same way we handle summary — calmly, on a flat fee, with a real human texting you back inside five minutes. The difference is mostly time. There's a creditor period to wait through, an inventory to file, and a final accounting at the end. Six to twelve months from petition to closing is typical.

Most of the work happens in the background. You'll sign things electronically, we'll handle the filings, the court will send orders. Your job, mostly, is to make decisions when we ask and let us run the process. Done well, you barely notice it happening.

The fit

Who qualifies

Non-exempt estate value is over $150,000
OR the person passed away within the last 2 years AND the estate doesn't qualify for summary
There's a will to admit AND/OR a personal representative needs to be appointed to manage assets, sell property, or pursue claims
Active creditors, lawsuits, or disputes that need court oversight
Out-of-state real estate or business interests that require a PR's signature to transfer

The work

What we handle

Your flat fee covers everything below. No surprise invoices, no “billable hours” anxiety — the price is the price.

Petition for Administration & Order Admitting Will to Probate
Letters of Administration appointing the personal representative
Notice to Creditors — published in a local paper, statutory 90-day window runs
Inventory of estate assets filed with the court
Creditor claim review, negotiation, and where appropriate, objections
Sale of estate real estate, vehicles, or business interests when needed
Tax filings: final 1040 for the decedent, 1041 for the estate, federal estate tax (706) if applicable
Final accounting + Petition for Discharge — the formal close

The process

How it works, step by step

01
20-minute call + engagement
We confirm formal is the right path, walk through the timeline, and quote the flat fee in writing. You sign electronically.
We handleReal person picks up. Most calls end with a 4-step plan.
02
Petition + appointment of PR
We file the petition, admit the will (if any), and the court issues Letters of Administration — the document that gives the PR authority to act for the estate.
We handleFirst filings within 1–2 weeks of engagement. Letters typically issue 2–4 weeks later.
03
Notice to creditors + inventory
Notice publishes in a local paper. The 90-day creditor window starts. We file the inventory of assets within the statutory window. Most of this is paper-shuffling on our end — your involvement is minimal.
We handleWe coordinate with the publisher and the clerk. You see drafts before anything goes out.
04
Manage assets, address claims
If real estate needs to be sold, we coordinate with the realtor and title company. If creditors file claims, we evaluate, negotiate, and object where appropriate. If taxes need to be filed, we coordinate with your CPA (or refer one).
We handleWeekly status updates — never silence. Decisions queued up so you're not surprised.
05
Final accounting + distribution
Once the creditor window closes and assets are gathered, we draft a final accounting, distribute to beneficiaries against signed receipts, and file the Petition for Discharge.
We handleBeneficiaries sign electronically. Distribution happens by wire or check, your call.
06
Order of discharge — case closed
The court signs the discharge order. You're done. We send a closing letter with everything filed and a clean paper trail.
We handleClosing binder by mail or PDF. Whichever you prefer.

The pitfalls

What we watch for

Easy on people, tough on problems. These are the things that catch families off guard — we've seen them all and we plan around them.

Underestimating the creditor period. The 90-day window starts on first publication, not on death. Real timelines run 4–6 months minimum even in clean cases.
Distributing too early. If the PR distributes before the creditor period closes, they can be personally liable if a valid claim surfaces. We control the timing.
Estate vs. inheritance taxes. Florida has no state estate tax, but federal estate tax kicks in around $13.99M (2026 unified exemption). Most estates don't owe — but the 1041 income tax return for the estate often does. We coordinate with your CPA.
Selling real estate without proper authority. A PR needs Letters AND, sometimes, a court order. Selling without one can void the transaction. We sequence sales correctly.

The FAQ

Questions families ask us

More work, more time. Summary is one filing and an order. Formal involves PR appointment, creditor publication, inventory, claim review, ongoing management, and a final accounting — typically 6 to 12 months of active work. Our $2,950 flat fee covers all standard elements; complex estates with sales, litigation, or tax work are quoted separately.

— From Rachel

Formal administration sounds intimidating because the word "formal" is. The work itself is mostly procedural — file, wait, file, wait, distribute, close. We run this same playbook on every formal case we take. Your case will get a calm, methodical treatment, and you'll have a real human to text whenever you have a question.