Need an Elder Law Attorney?
Visit LDLegal.com to learn about elder law and estate planning services.
"Fantastic and Accessible"
Long was very upfront about everything that I needed to get to him and everything he would handle for me, including a reasonable timeline for the process... I felt incredibly well taken care of during an extremely difficult time after losing my father unexpectedly and not knowing how to handle things with his estate. Long made this process as painless as possible and I could not have chosen a better attorney to handle this. (Erin on January 7, 2020)Talk to a Florida Probate Attorney
We offer truly free consultations. Find out if probate is really necessary or if alternative solutions are available.
We will clearly outline your options in plain English and what it may cost, but there's no obligation whatsoever. There is no sales pitch.
Reach out and get the information you need.
Send us a Message (in under 30 seconds)
Book Direct on Our Calendar
Get answers from an experienced probate attorney.
*Consultations by phone are completely free.
Need Florida Probate?
Basics of Florida Probate Law
Learn the basics of probate.
Purpose of Florida probate, inheritance laws & avoiding probate.
Letters of Administration
How to get Letters of Administration.
When are Letters of Administration really needed? Learn about Formal Administration.
Summary Administration
Learn about this abbreviated form of Probate.
When to use Summary Administration? What to watch out for.
Does the bank need "Letters of Administration"?
See our most visited blog post.
What are Letters of Administration?
Letters of Administration are court orders granting authority to the person appointed as personal representative, to do all things necessary to administer a decedent’s estate. Letters are typically only issued in a formal administration of an estate which is initiated by a Petition for Administration. Once received (read more)
What is Florida Probate?
- Florida Probate administration is a court process for distributing a person’s assets after they die.
- Typical assets that go through probate: real estate or titled/documented personal property
- Assets are collected, creditors are paid and beneficiaries receive whatever remains.
- There are 2 types of probate: Summary & Formal Administration
- Even if a person has a Will, probate may still be necessary (A Will does not avoid probate.)
- In Florida, “Personal Representatives” are in charge of probating the estate and are almost always required to have an attorney. These attorneys handle nearly all of the probate court work.
- Most cases are filed electronically with telephone hearings, so neither you nor your attorney have to be present in the county handling the case.
How to Begin Florida Probate Administration
There are many initial and deliberate steps to starting a probate administration, including:- Take an initial inventory of all assets (Don’t forget to check for a safe deposit box)
- Determine which assets are subject to probate (from assets that pass outside of probate)
- Secure assets to avoid problems prior and during administration
- Determine all known creditors and balances due
- Assess which form of probate is most suitable given the conclusions of items 1 and 2 (Summary or Formal Administration)
- Draft petition requesting probate administration
- Secure signatures from all interested parties consenting to administration
- Send notice to all parties who might otherwise have an interest in administration
- Draft and prepare all proposed orders for the probate court’s consideration
- File a comprehensive probate petition package with all supporting documentation
- Submit proposed orders (each county has local rules about submission of proposed orders)
- Prepare notices to creditors for publication and direct notification
- Await court response (summary orders or orders appointing personal representative w/letters of administration)
Types of Probate Property
Real Property:
- Homestead (Residence)
- Second home
- Rental property
- Vacation home
- Timeshare
- Vacant land
Need Probate for Mesothelioma & Asbestos litigation? Click here to learn more.
Skip to Frequently Asked Questions
These are a handful of the many common questions about Florida probate law that we field every day.
- Do I actually need probate?
- What are “Letters of Administration“?
- How much does probate cost?
- What is Formal Administration?
- What is Summary Administration?
- Do I need to come to Florida for probate?
- If the Will says I’m the Personal Representative, why do I need probate?
- How to Choose a Probate Attorney?
- Summary vs. Formal Administration
- What are the risks of starting probate too soon?
- Do I need probate if there is no Will?
Instant Download: “Understanding Florida Probate Law”
In addition to setting up your free phone consultation, you’ll also receive a free copy to our popular ebook, “Understanding Florida Probate Law”
(Downloaded over 10,000 times since 2008)
Inside you’ll learn more about:
- Types of probate
- Real world probate scenarios
- When not to probate
Over 15 years of Florida Probate experience
About LD Legal, LLC
Florida Probate Attorney
LD Legal, LLC is a law firm devoted to probate and estate administration matters throughout the state of Florida. We were honored to receive our eighth straight AVVO Clients' Choice Award for Florida Probate Law. For nearly 15 years, clients from all over the country and overseas have trusted us with inheritance & probate matters.
Founded by Long H. Duong, Esq. (last name pronounced “Young”) in 2005, the firm is truly committed to a positive and transparent client experience in an area of law that many people find frustrating.
Florida Probate Law often can be confusing and cumbersome – sprinkled with tricky details invisible to the untrained eye. Even the “simplest” of probates can become complicated if executed poorly. Without proper knowledge or guidance, you could be wasting precious time and money. We want to help you avoid all of that.
Yes, there is an overwhelming amount of information online about how to probate in Florida, but none of it is as valuable as a chat with an actual Florida probate attorney. We have posted some resources on our blog to help you get started, but more than anything, we would love to speak with you directly to discuss your case.
Learn more about how we work on a Florida probate administration case.
Address & Phones
LD Legal, LLC
11 NW 33 Ct
Gainesville, FL 32607
tel: (352) 371-2670 | (877) 937-7628
fax: (866) 440-9154
Do you really need Probate?
Find out in one quick consultation. Schedule yours today.
Send us a Message (in under 30 seconds)
Book Direct on Our Calendar