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?

We can help you with:

About Florida Probate | How to Begin Florida Probate Administration | Commonly Asked Questions | About LD Legal, LLC | Contact Us

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.

Instant Download: “Understanding Florida Probate Law”

Florida Probate Guide

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

Download your copy today.

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

2012 AVVO CLIENTS CHOICE FLORIDA PROBATE

Client’s Choice for 8 Years in a row

Justin Handler

2023-08-18

Long, was the first person my brother and I found online when my dad was dying. And truthfully, we didn't know a thing about the process or probate. We were from different states and the rules in Florida were new to us. Long and his team could not have been more helpful. He helped guide us through the probate process and took care of us every step of the way. I can't say enough good things about his professionalism and support through a difficult process.

2022-10-04

True no-pressure consultation. In dealing with my mother’s estate (or lack thereof) I only needed a 15-minute consultation with Mr. Duong. His is true to his statement about finding out if probate is necessary or if alternative solutions are available. I was drawn to his matter-of-fact information on the website that didn’t have the slant of “you must do this fast, and you must have a lawyer.” The ability to speak directly with the attorney and not have to filter through a sales pitch or commitment was a pleasant surprise, and at no point did I feel “small” in making my inquiry. It was more like a neighbor giving the best advice they can to get you in the right direction. At the end of the call, I had a better understanding of the Florida estate system and a good idea of how my family needed to move forward. If my circumstances needed more elaborate care, I would reach out to Mr. Duong again. I greatly appreciate his time and how kindly he addressed my questions.

Donald Martin

2021-11-02

Great people

Madison Peluso

2021-08-30

I searched near and far for a lawyer to assist me with probate. I cannot even describe how amazing LD Legal is. They are professional, and kind. They answered all of my questions and were super quick in probate. They are amazing. I would recommend them to everyone.

ju gib

2021-08-23

Attorney Duong handled a probate matter for my family with excellence and professionalism in 2018. As a result, I am contacting him in August of 2021 to handle a guardianship matter. Very responsive, knowledgeable and gets the matter resolved. J. Gibson Esq.

J Williams

2021-08-19

Mr. Long H. Doung, Esq. helped my husband and I out tremendously. He was quick to act in helping us with my husband's Mom's house. He gave us valuable information through a consultation. He was a wonderful communicator as in how to handle our probate. If you need a reliable lawyer who cares then he is the one for you. He went above and beyond to assist in getting the job done. I'm so impressed with how he was able to get paperwork done efficiently. Thank you LD Legal, LLC. Your service was very much appreciated!

Steven Grabosky

2021-07-09

I do not normally leave reviews unless I can honestly leave a one star or a five star, there is no in between for me. With that being said, Mr. Duong absolutely deserves a five star review as I was completely taken aback by his benevolence and honesty after just the free consult into my probate case. He even went as far as to advise me to wait a couple years based on my specific case because he felt that it would be unjust to take my case at this time. That kind of chivalry is rare and I wholly respect that.

connie verduga

2021-03-05

My mom passed away in November suddenly. There wasn’t a will and my only sibling and I were clueless as what to do. After shopping around for probate attorneys we decided upon ld legal. They were very professional in talking to me, provided excellent information, and the rates we were so reasonable. The process took barely 3 months and they were emailing me throughout giving me updates. Once closed they provided the necessary paperwork along with thorough instructions as to next steps. I am so grateful for their care and professionalism. Grieving is so difficult under stress but Long didn’t add to the stress but actually helped. I definitely recommend.

Melissa Gouge

2020-09-17

Long worked with my mother to put together her estate planning documents. He was imminently patient with her and answered her question with kindness, compassion, and in everyday language that gave her confidence in what can be a confusing process. Our family will continue to work with Long for all of our estate planning needs.

Walton Rodney

2020-06-23

Called to get a consult on administrative letter. Paying for legal services would not be practical as court fees and legal fees would barely cover the amount trying to recover I was told. Long quickly suggested an alternative that I could pursue that would not require me to obtain Attorney but was just as effective. Great guys and I recommend them to anyone. Thanks for the advice.