Do all estates in Florida have to go through formal probate administration?
No. Very small estates without land may qualify for “disposition without administration” and some estates may qualify for summary administration which is faster and less expensive. If the deceased has been dead for more than two years, the estate can be handled in summary administration. There are two types of administration of a deceased’s estate (and two non-administrative proceedings): i) FORMAL ADMINISTRATION is used when the assets include land or other assets that exceed $75,000 in value or where it is necessary to appoint a personal representative to administer the estate. ii) SUMMARY ADMINISTRATION is used if the assets that are solely in the deceased’s name do not exceed $75,000. This procedure also is used if the deceased has been dead for more than two years or there is a provision for payment of creditors’ claims. iii) DISPOSITION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT ADMINISTRATION is a non-administrative proceeding. This proceeding is filed to request release of personal property
