Probate

• Author: Steven F. Samilow
• Pages: 1069-1140

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PROBATE

CHAPTER 13

PROBATE

I. GENERAL POINTS

§13:01 The Probate Process

§13:02 The Rules Governing Probate

§13:03 The Personal Representative

§13:04 The Attorney’s Role

§13:05 Jurisdiction and Venue

§13:06 Proof of Death

§13:07 The Estate Tax Return

§13:08 Caveats

§13:09 Court Filings and Service

§13:10 Notice to Interested Persons

§13:11 Formal Notice

§13:12 Informal Notice

§13:13 Comparing Formal Notice and Informal Notice

II. PRELIMINARY STEPS

§13:20 Acknowledge the Emotional Effects

§13:21 Obtain Basic Information Before the Interview

§13:22 Determine Jurisdiction and Venue

§13:23 Obtain All Necessary Information

§13:24 Identify Probate and Non-Probate Assets

§13:25 Review the Assets

§13:26 Determine the Appropriate Proceedings

§13:27 Explain the Procedure and Fees

§13:28 Intestate Succession

§13:29 Probate of a Lost Will

III. EVALUATING THE ESTATE

§13:40 Non-Probate Assets

§13:41 Homestead Property

§13:42 Exempt Property

§13:43 Debts

§13:44 Trusts

IV. SMALL ESTATES

§13:50 Alternatives to Formal Administration

§13:51 Disposition Without Administration

§13:52 Income Tax Refunds

Florida Small-Firm Practice Tools 13-2

PROBATE

§13:53 Summary Administration

§13:54 Notice to Creditors Under a Summary Administration

§13:55 Distributions Under a Summary Administration

V. FORMAL ADMINISTRATION

A. Establishing Administration

§13:60 General Points

§13:61 Petition for Administration

§13:62 Admission of Will to Probate

§13:63 Appointment of Personal Representative

§13:64 Opening an Estate Account

§13:65 Notice of Administration

§13:66 Giving Notice to Creditors

§13:67 Publishing the Notice to Creditors

§13:68 Statement Regarding Creditors

§13:69 Inventory

§13:70 Order of Payment of Expenses, Allowances and Creditor Claims

B. Proceedings During Administration

§13:80 Interested Persons May Demand Accounting

§13:81 Removing the Personal Representative

§13:82 Family Allowance

§13:83 Powers of the Personal Representative

§13:84 Fees

§13:85 Taking Possession of the Protected Homestead

§13:86 Safe Deposit Box

§13:87 Elective Share

§13:88 Adversary Proceedings

§13:89 Will Contests

§13:90 Voidable Transactions

§13:91 Paying Creditor Claims

§13:92 Objections to Creditor Claims

§13:92.1 Executions and Levies

§13:93 Statutes of Repose and Limitations

§13:94 Survival of Claims Held by the Decedent and Tolling the Statutes of Limitations

§13:95 Survival of Claims Against the Decedent and Tolling the Statutes of Limitations

§13:96 Timeliness of Creditor Claims

§13:97 Costs and Attorney’s Fees

§13:98 Revocation of Probate

§13:99 Rehearing

C. Closing the Estate

§13:100 Final Accounting

§13:101 Waiver of the Final Accounting

§13:102 Discharge of the Personal Representative

§13:103 Objecting to Discharge of the Personal Representative and/or the Final Accounting

FORMS

Form 13:10 Client Information Questionnaire—Probate

Form 13:20 Client Intake Checklist—Probate

Form 13:30 Petition to Determine Homestead Status

Form 13:40 Order Determining Homestead Status

Form 13:50 Notice of Trust

Form 13:60 Verif‌ied Statement in Support for Disposition of Personal Property Without Administration

Form 13:70 Petition for Summary Administration

Form 13:80 Order of Summary Administration

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PROBATE

Form 13:90 Petition for Administration (Testate Estate)

Form 13:100 Petition for Administration (Intestate Estate)

Form 13:110 Letters of Administration

Form 13:120 Order Appointing Personal Representative

Form 13:130 Oath of Personal Representative and Designation of Resident Agent

Form 13:140 Declination of Position as Co-Personal Representative

Form 13:150 Designation of Resident Agent and Acceptance

Form 13:160 Notice of Administration

Form 13:170 Notice to Creditors

Form 13:180 Statement Regarding Creditors

Form 13:190 Agreement for Transfer of Property, Settlement and Release

Form 13:200 Motion for Accounting

Form 13:220 Petition for Removal of Personal Representative

Form 13:230 Petition for Family Allowance

Form 13:240 Personal Representative’s Deed

Form 13:250 Safe Deposit Inventor y

Form 13:260 Petitioner ’s Opening Statement: Will Contest

Form 13:270 Respondent ’s Closing Argument: Will Contest

Form 13:280 Deposition/Direct Examination Outline: Surviving Spouse/Will Contest

Form 13:290 Deposition/Cross-Examination Outline: Surviving Spouse/Will Contest

Form 13:300 Shor t-Hand Probate Accounting Guide

Form 13:310 Waiver of Accounting and of Service of Petition for Discharge

Form 13:320 Petition for Discharge

Form 13:330 Order of Discharge