Understanding Florida Probate

Probate is the court-supervised legal process used to identify estate assets, address valid debts and claims, and distribute remaining property to the appropriate heirs or beneficiaries.

In Florida, probate may be required when a person dies owning assets in their individual name that do not pass automatically through a beneficiary designation, joint ownership, trust, or other non-probate transfer method.

Florida offers different probate paths depending on the estate. Some estates require formal administration, while others may qualify for summary administration under Florida Statute §735.201 , including certain estates valued at $75,000 or less after excluding exempt property, or estates where the decedent has been deceased for more than two years.