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After a parent dies · Florida
Small estates in Florida: collecting a parent's property without full probate
Florida's summary administration is available when the estate, less exempt property, is worth $150,000 or less, or when the person has been dead more than 2 years. In Florida, any beneficiary, or the person named as personal representative in the will, may file a petition for summary administration.
Educational only. Not legal advice. Sources checked November 2, 2026.
What the official sources say
- Florida's summary administration is available when the estate, less exempt property, is worth $150,000 or less, or when the person has been dead more than 2 years. Florida Statutes, Chapter 735. Checked November 2, 2026
- In Florida, any beneficiary, or the person named as personal representative in the will, may file a petition for summary administration. Florida Statutes, Chapter 735. Checked November 2, 2026
- Before Florida's summary administration order, the petitioner must search diligently for creditors and serve them a copy of the petition. Florida Statutes, Chapter 735. Checked November 2, 2026
How to keep these papers
Keep dated copies of the papers you already have in one place, and write the day something happened on the same day. KeepMyProof is a private phone app for that: folders with checklists, the day it happened next to the day you saved it, and one PDF of a folder when someone asks.
- Will or trust copies
- Death certificates
- Court papers naming the executor
- Accounts and property papers
- Bills and letters to close out
- Family land papers (heirs' property)
Download the free printable checklist (PDF)
One page, no email needed.
Coming soon to Google Play.
More for Florida
- Creditor claim deadlines for an estate in Florida
- How to order a death certificate in Florida
- Executor duties and deadlines in Florida
- How probate works in Florida after a parent dies
- Executor checklist: papers after a parent dies: the full guide
- Small estates: collecting a parent's property without full probate: all states
Neighbouring states
- Small estates in Alabama: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Small estates in Georgia: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Small estates in District of Columbia: collecting a parent's property without full probate
- Small estates in Hawaii: collecting a parent's property without full probate
Questions
Where do these Florida facts come from?
Each fact on this page is copied from an official source: Florida Statutes, Chapter 735. We checked that each source still says it on November 2, 2026. Rules and forms change, so open the official link and read the current version before you rely on it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page is educational only and is not legal advice. KeepMyProof is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer licensed in Florida or your court's self-help center.
Which papers should I keep for after a parent dies?
A good start: Will or trust copies; Death certificates; Court papers naming the executor; Accounts and property papers; Bills and letters to close out; Family land papers (heirs' property). Keep only papers you are allowed to have, write the date on each note, and keep originals somewhere safe.
How can I keep these papers private on my phone?
KeepMyProof keeps copies of the papers you already have in folders with checklists, encrypted on your phone, with no account and no ads. It is free for the first items you save. It is coming soon to Google Play.
Educational only. Not legal advice.