When you have been named as a personal representative to the estate of someone who has passed away, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The probate process can be a complex one. Most people are unfamiliar with how to probate an estate and are not used to dealing with the court. By law, a personal representative of a Florida estate must be represented by an attorney.
Having an experienced hand to guide you through the probate process will give you confidence knowing that you will be able to successfully navigate through probate.
At The Charles Law Offices, we offer a deep understanding of the probate process in Florida. We are here to educate our clients about the probate process and what they need to do. We are with you at every stage of the process to ensure that you are able to successfully carry out your responsibilities.
AV Preeminent* rated, Master of Laws in Elder Law, member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), member of the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys (AFELA)
We know that being tasked with the responsibilities of acting as a personal representative can seem overwhelming. We will be there for you.
The probate process in Florida involves a number of tasks that need to be accomplished:
- Filing a probate petition and gathering the relevant records: We will instruct you about what type of documents will be necessary and file your petition to be named as the personal representative of the estate.
- Publishing a notice to creditors: Creditors have a right to pursue debts out of the decedent's estate. According to the law, a notice needs to be made public in an attempt to inform those creditors of their opportunity to secure the debt.
- Gathering, inventory and appraisal of assets: Ensuring that all assets and property are known and taken into consideration so that their value can be assessed is one of the most important tasks for a personal representative. No property can be distributed until a full inventory and appraisal are accomplished.
- Paying out debts and taxes: The payment of applicable estate taxes and other taxes along with any debts is an essential element to successfully probating an estate.
- Distributing and closing the estate: After taxes, debts and other expenses associated with the administration of the estate have been paid, the assets can be distributed to the appropriate heirs or beneficiaries.
Contact a Clearwater Probate Court Attorney at The Charles Law Offices
If you have been nominated as a personal representative or are seeking to be appointed as a personal representative, we can help you face the task of administering the estate at hand with the confidence that comes from working with a firm you can rely on. At The Charles Law Offices, we take pride in the level of support we provide to our clients. To schedule a free initial consultation with our Florida probate process lawyer, call 727.475.6340, toll free at 866.607.6531 or simply contact us online. We accept credit cards for our clients' convenience.
Offices in Clearwater - Largo - St. Petersburg
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
