The Top Five Florida Probate Questions You Need To Know

A non-Florida resident can be appointed personal representative in a probate if that person is: (a) a legally adopted child or parent of the decedent; (b) is related to the decedent by blood; ©.) is the spouse of someone who is eligible to serve; or, (d) a spouse, brother, sister, niece, nephew, uncle or aunt of the decedent or, someone who is related by blood to one of these individuals.

No. Most probates which do not involve taxable estates (multi-million dollars) are completed within six (6) months to one (1) year. In a taxable estate a federal estate tax return must be filed with the United States Treasury and the Court will not close the probate until it receives proof that the return is accepted and the tax paid. If someone contests the Will, the probate process can take longer.

Florida law provides that a surviving spouse is entitled to thirty percent (30%) of the estate that includes probate and potentially non-probate assets (i.e. assets that pass directly to a designated beneficiary). The surviving spouse’s interests are protected even when the decedent did not name the spouse as a beneficiary in their Will. The only exceptions are if the couple signed a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement waiving their rights to inherit.

If the home was titled in the decedent’s name alone (no joint owner and no beneficiary on the deed) the beneficiary cannot sell the home until the Court enters an order determining the rightful beneficiary.

Today’s technology makes it possible to be a personal representative long-distance. Initially, you will need to travel to the decedent’s home to identify, marshal and secure the assets.