{"id":372562,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/florida-law\/florida-estate-procedures.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:17","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:17","slug":"florida-estate-procedures","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/florida-law\/florida-estate-procedures.html","title":{"rendered":"Florida Estate Procedures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Florida Estate Procedures<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

It can be emotionally difficult, stressful, and confusing for a person\u2019s family and friends when he or she passes away. One of the questions that must be addressed is what happens to that person\u2019s property and debts upon his or her death. FindLaw has created this article to help you understand the basics of estate procedures in Florida.<\/p>\n

Probate an Estate<\/h2>\n

When a person passes away (the law calls them \u201cthe decedent\u201d), his or her property will go to individuals or entities called beneficiaries. <\/p>\n

Any assets co-owned by the decedent and another person or persons generally go automatically to the other owners and do not require the opening of an estate. Assets such as life insurance benefits, IRAs, annuities, and pensions that have designated beneficiaries should go directly to the identified beneficiaries, and also do not require the opening of an estate under Florida law.<\/p>\n

When the decedent owns property in his or her name alone, it is necessary to "probate" the estate. Probate is a process, overseen by the court, which identifies the decedent\u2019s assets, pays necessary taxes and debts<\/a>, and distributes property to beneficiaries.<\/p>\n

Summary Administration<\/h2>\n

It may be possible to probate an estate using Summary Administration under the following circumstances:<\/p>\n