Formal administration is the standard probate process in Florida and is typically required for larger estates or those that don’t qualify for a simplified procedure. Summary administration is a shorter, less involved process available for smaller estates or when the deceased has been gone for more than two years. There is also a procedure called disposition without administration for very small estates. We’ll help you identify which process applies and what it involves.

Not necessarily. Whether an estate requires probate depends on factors like how assets are titled, their total value, and whether a valid will exists. Some assets pass automatically outside of probate, through joint ownership, designated beneficiaries, or trust arrangements. Other estates may qualify for a simplified process called summary administration. The best way to know what applies to your situation is to have an attorney review it.