What steps do I need to take to re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners died? — FL
Detailed Answer — How to re-record or update a joint survivorship deed after co-owners die (Florida) Short answer: In Florida, title that was held as joint tenancy with right of survivorship or tenancy by the entirety generally passes automatically to the surviving owner(s) when a co-owner dies. To update public records you usually record the […]
Read article →What can I do if the personal representative sends me a payment without explaining how he calculated my share of the estate? (FL)
Detailed Answer If a personal representative (also called an executor or administrator) sends you a distribution but does not explain how your share of the estate was calculated, you have clear rights under Florida law and practical steps you can take to protect your interests. Short version: ask for a written accounting and supporting records […]
Read article →What documentation proves next of kin and qualifies me as administrator in a reopened estate — FL
Detailed Answer Short overview: To be appointed administrator (personal representative) in a reopened Florida probate, you must both show you are entitled to priority as a next of kin under Florida law and provide documentary proof of identity and relationship. The probate court will want certified originals or certified copies of documents that prove the […]
Read article →What steps do I need to take when the original estate administrator has died before completing the probate? (FL)
Detailed Answer If the original personal representative (often called the estate administrator) assigned to a Florida probate estate dies before finishing administration, the probate does not end automatically. The court must appoint a successor personal representative so administration can continue. Below are the practical, step-by-step actions an interested person should expect and take to move […]
Read article →How can I reopen my father's closed estate in Florida (FL) so I can be appointed as administrator?
Detailed Answer This article explains, under Florida law, how someone can ask a court to reopen a closed probate estate so they can be appointed as the personal representative (commonly called an administrator when there is no will). This is a general, plain-language guide for people who start with no legal background. It is not […]
Read article →What happens if the survey shows the property was conveyed out of my mother’s estate decades ago? (FL)
Detailed Answer Short answer: If a recent survey or title search shows that the property was conveyed out of your mother’s estate decades ago, the person (or entity) named on the recorded deed probably now holds legal title. In most cases you will not have an ownership interest unless you can show the old conveyance […]
Read article →Can I recover personal items that heirs removed from the house before I took possession and enforce the court’s order? (FL)
Detailed Answer — Recovering personal items removed by heirs and enforcing a Florida court order Short answer: Yes, you may have legal remedies under Florida law to recover personal items that heirs removed from a house before you took possession and to enforce the court’s order, but the right route depends on what order was […]
Read article →How do I get the probate court’s permission to sell the property when the clerk’s office won’t explain the filing requirements? – FL
Getting Court Permission to Sell Estate Property in Florida: What to Do When the Clerk Won’t Explain Filing Requirements Detailed Answer — how to obtain court authority to sell real property in a Florida probate matter This answer explains the typical path to get the probate court’s permission to sell real property in Florida and […]
Read article →What steps do I need to follow as executor to sell real property to pay estate debts? (FL)
How an executor (personal representative) can sell estate real property to pay debts in Florida This FAQ explains, in plain language, the typical steps a personal representative (called an executor in some states) follows when selling real property owned by a Florida decedent to pay estate debts. The explanation uses common hypothetical facts: the estate […]
Read article →What Happens to a Safe Deposit Box After Someone Dies in FL?
Detailed Answer This explains how Florida law and common bank practice handle a decedent's safe-deposit box. This is a general, plain-language overview — not legal advice. Who can open the box right away? – If there is a surviving joint owner named on the box (for example, the decedent and a spouse as joint tenants), […]
Read article →