What is probate in Florida?

In Florida, probate is the court administered process through which a deceased person’s Estate is administered. In layman’s terms, probate is one of the means through which a person’s final affairs are resolved after his or her death. In probate, various matters are addressed. These include matters such as gathering of Estate assets, payment of creditors, filing and payment of any unpaid taxes, determination of beneficiaries, and distribution of a deceased person’s assets. In Florida, there are two types of probate: Summary Administration and Formal Administration. Summary Administration applies to estates of less than $75,000 (not including exempt assets such as a homestead). Formal Administration applies to Estates valued at more than $75,000. The determination of whether an Estate requires a Summary Administration or a Formal Administration should be made with the advice of an experienced Florida probate attorney.