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Probate is the legal procedure through which a court confirms the validity of a deceased person’s will or finds that he or she died without one. The court also appoints someone to manage the decedent’s assets and settle any outstanding debts after he or she passes away.
PROBATE PROCESS IN FLORIDA
Probate can be a difficult procedure. It might only take a few months or sometimes more than a year to finish. A probate court will be involved in the procedure, but court hearings are not always necessary. The type of probate and what steps that will entail depends on the nature of the estate assets, the estate plan in place, and the date of death.
One of the first things a personal representative must do is take control of the estate’s assets. This means the personal representative must determine how the estate’s residences, automobiles, and other property will be cared for. Everything must be safeguarded from damage or theft, and insurance must be kept updated.
The estate must also be inventoried by the personal representative. For bigger estates, this might be difficult, particularly if the personal representative was not close to the individual who died. A probate attorney can assist in taking an inventory of an estate.
A personal representative is also in charge of the estate’s distribution. This might be problematic if certain beneficiaries are hard to locate or if the estate is being challenged. To ensure that the personal representative completes all of the probate procedure responsibilities, it’s preferable to work with an experienced probate attorney.
GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST
If the probate process is not familiar to the family, it can add to the challenges. Our experienced, compassionate, and trusted probate attorneys can help relieve some of the pressure on the family in this difficult time. Contact us at (850) 608-0112 or fill out our convenient online contact form.