Southwest Florida

Probate

The basics

In Florida, probate is not as awful, scary, or expensive as some people seem to think. But it is a public process requiring court oversight and approval every step of the way.

Probate is derived from the Latin word for “proof” or “proving.” Think about it – if you believe you’re entitled to inherit something (get legal title to it), you have to have some proof of ownership so the entire world accepts your legal rights. A valid Will provides that proof.

So, the deceased person’s Personal Representative submits the Will to a Probate Court judge to prove that the Will and the beneficiaries’ claims are valid. The judge then oversees the entire distribution process – which protects the Personal Representative and any other beneficiaries. In fact, in Florida a Will doesn’t prove title to any property until it’s admitted to probate.

But what if the deceased person died without executing a Will (intestate)? Or what if his Will is declared invalid by the judge? In those cases, Florida has a ready-made estate plan for the deceased person – whether it’s what he (or his spouse or children) would have wanted or not. The probate judge will make sure the property is distributed according to the law.

A couple of important things

Only property owned by the deceased person in his individual name without named beneficiaries (not joint, TOD, or POD) will go through the probate process.

Probate isn’t a do-it-yourself project. Florida law requires nearly every Personal Representative to be represented by an attorney. A very limited exception can be made if the sole Personal Representative is also the sole interested party – which means there are no other possible heirs hiding in the woodwork.

No beneficiary (other than perhaps a spouse or dependent child) receives any of the money or property subject to probate until the probate judge closes the case.

Types of probate

Florida’s pretty flexible when it comes to probate. In some cases, the property can be distributed without court oversight or with minimal court oversight. Larger, more complex estates will require a more formal process.

Please keep in mind that the following information is VERY general. Each estate is different, so contact us to find out what type of probate process (if any) is appropriate in your particular situation.

Disposition Without Administration

If the deceased person owned no real estate and just a minimal amount of household goods or personal property, then a very quick, informal process can be used to transfer that property to the person(s) entitled to receive it.

Summary Administration

If the deceased person has property subject to probate worth $75,000 or less, including real estate, then his Personal Representative may be able to use Summary Administration, which tends to be quicker and easier than a formal probate. Summary Administration can also be used if the deceased person has been dead for more than two years.

Formal Probate Administration

If the deceased person’s estate doesn’t qualify for Disposition Without Administration or Summary Administration, then the only choice left is a formal probate proceeding. Generally, that means the distribution of the estate property is a little more complex, so there’s more paperwork and court oversight involved. Most formal probate proceedings are completed within nine months, and some a bit earlier. Others can go on for years if there are complications regarding the property or disgruntled heirs are contesting the Will.

Ancillary Administration

This is what happens when you die as a resident of one state and own real estate in your individual name in another state. Your estate goes through probate proceedings in both states! Each state only looks at the property attached to that state, but it just takes more money away from your beneficiaries and may tie things up a while longer.

The good and the bad

Probate is a necessary process in a country that values property rights. The process ensures that all beneficiaries are identified, that creditors get paid in a timely manner, and that legal title passes properly.

But it costs money, interferes with the Personal Representative’s personal and business life, and may delay much-needed distributions to beneficiaries.

Perhaps worst of all, for people who value their privacy, it’s also a public process.

Your Will becomes a public record that anyone can see.

Your nosy neighbor can view it and find out that you disinherited one of your children. Or that you had a child your wife didn’t know about. There are even people out there who look at Wills to find potentially vulnerable wealthy widows, and then arrange to “accidentally” meet them or offer them handyman services.

Avoiding probate

Again, probate isn’t all bad. In some instances, it can actually expedite the distribution process. And in Florida, it’s not prohibitively expensive for modest estates, although it’s generally more expensive than doing estate planning that includes a revocable living trust.

But it can be a long, aggravating process, and it does infringe on your privacy. So eliminating or reducing the property subject to probate may be desirable for some people. Of course, you have to take the appropriate steps BEFORE you die!

Property held jointly with another person avoids probate, as do Transfer-on-Death (TOD) and Payable-on-Death (POD) accounts. Your IRAs, 401(k) s, and other retirement accounts with named beneficiaries also avoid probate. As do your annuities and some life insurance policies (it depends on ownership and cash value).

Revocable Living Trust may also help you avoid or reduce probate. Yes, you’d still have a Will, but it would just essentially say, “Everything is in my Trust.”

But don’t just willy-nilly start adding beneficiaries and joint owners all over the place! There may be tax, liquidity, and other consequences waiting to ambush you.

And if any of your beneficiaries are, or will be, receiving needs-based government benefits, you need to be especially careful.

Whether you need help with a probate or trust administration, or you want to do some pre-planning to avoid putting your loved ones through the stress of probate, give Manasota Estate Planning a call. We’re here to help.

You wonder whether your granddaughter will think of you fondly when you’re not around anymore.

You want to make sure someone will love and care for your dog, horse, or parrot when you can’t.

Your spouse doesn’t share your love for guns, and you fear your collection could be sold for almost nothing – or even destroyed – instead of being passed on to your children or others who share your passion.

Contact us today. We can help.

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