What it means
When a proposal is made to compromise a claim by or against a decedent's estate, whether in suit or not, or to compromise a question about distribution of the estate, the court may enter an order authorizing the compromise if satisfied that the compromise is for the best interest of the interested persons.
The order relieves the personal representative of liability or responsibility for the compromise. A claim against the estate may not be compromised until the time for filing objections to claims has expired; that period is set in § 733.705(2).
- Covers claims by or against the estate, in suit or not, and questions about distribution of the estate (§ 733.708).
- The court may authorize the compromise if satisfied it is for the best interest of the interested persons (§ 733.708).
- The order relieves the personal representative of liability or responsibility for the compromise (§ 733.708).
- Claims against the estate may not be compromised until the time for filing objections to claims has expired (§ 733.708).
Text of the statute (2026)
When a proposal is made to compromise any claim, whether in suit or not, by or against the estate of a decedent or to compromise any question concerning the distribution of a decedent’s estate, the court may enter an order authorizing the compromise if satisfied that the compromise will be for the best interest of the interested persons. The order shall relieve the personal representative of liability or responsibility for the compromise. Claims against the estate may not be compromised until after the time for filing objections to claims has expired.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 733.708.
History. s. 1, ch. 74-106; s. 86, ch. 75-220; s. 151, ch. 2001-226.
How it applies
The section gives a personal representative a way to settle a disputed claim or a distribution question with court approval. The court's finding concerns the interested persons, a term defined in § 731.201(23). The relief from liability attaches to the order authorizing the compromise. For claims against the estate, the earliest point for a compromise is after the objection period in § 733.705(2) ends, which is the later of 4 months from first publication or 30 days from the claim's filing or amendment.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 733.708 does real work:
Questions people ask
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 733.708 (2026), flsenate.gov (Court authorization, relief of the personal representative, and the wait until the objection period expires.)
- Fla. Stat. § 733.705 (2026), flsenate.gov (Objection period in subsection (2) that must expire before a claim against the estate is compromised.)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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