Formal Administration of a decedent’s estate is required where the value of the estate exceeds $75,000 and the decedent has been dead for less than 2 years.

The Probate procedure is a step-by-step process with specific time limitations attached to each step. Because of this, and other reasons, Florida law requires that a personal representative of the decedent’s estate must be represented by an Attorney. The timeline for a Formal Administration varies with the complexity of the estate, but at a minimum, it will take 4 months. A personal representative is appointed by the court in a formal administration.

The personal representative represents the estate and owes a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of all the beneficiaries of the estate.