Probate
HELPING YOU NAVIGATE THE FLORIDA COURT SYSTEM TO SEAMLESSLY SETTLE AN ESTATE.
Why Probate Exists in Florida
Probate is the legal process that settles a person's affairs after they pass away. It is how Florida law makes sure debts are paid, assets are accounted for, and property is transferred to the right people, under the protection of the court.
Probate exists to bring order and legitimacy to a family's transition, so there is a clear, verified record of who receives what. Without it, there would be no lawful way to transfer a home, close an account, or honor a loved one's wishes. Done well, probate is simply the legal system that coordinates the process of administering your legacy.
Who Needs a Florida Probate Attorney?
If you have lost a loved one who owned property, bank accounts, or other assets in their name alone, you likely need a Florida probate attorney to guide the estate through court. This includes personal representatives named in a will, family members of someone who died without one, and beneficiaries seeking to protect their inheritance from delay or dispute.
Probate can also become necessary when creditors make claims, when a will is contested, or when real estate must be sold or transferred. Whether the estate is straightforward or complicated, an experienced Florida probate attorney protects your family from costly mistakes and unnecessary delay.
What Happens if a Loved One Dies Without a Will in Florida?
When a loved one dies without a will, Florida's intestate succession laws decide who inherits, not the family.
Generally, a surviving spouse inherits everything if all children are also the spouse's children. If the deceased had children from another relationship, the estate is typically divided between the spouse and those children. If there is no spouse alive, children inherit in equal shares. Without a will, there is no way to direct assets to a specific person, a charity, or a church, and the court, not your family, controls the outcome.
This is one of the most common and preventable causes of family conflict and lost legacy.
How to Avoid Florida Probate
Probate can often be reduced or avoided altogether with the right planning in place. Common strategies include a revocable living trust, which holds assets outside of probate and passes them directly to beneficiaries, as well as Lady Bird Deeds for real estate, payable-on-death designations for bank accounts, and properly titled joint ownership.
As of July 1, 2026, Florida also expanded summary administration, its simplified probate track, to estates with $150,000 or less in non-exempt assets, giving more families a faster, lower-cost path when full probate cannot be avoided.
The right combination depends on your family's assets and goals.
Florida probate services:
Ambassador Law can assist or represent personal representatives through every stage of probate, including formal and summary administration, estate accounting, creditor claims, and asset distribution. For families who want to prevent probate altogether, we build comprehensive estate plans centered on trusts, deeds, and beneficiary designations.
Whatever stage you are in, we bring investigative thoroughness and genuine care to every case.
Ambassador Law offices are based in Pinellas County, primarily serving families throughout the Tampa Bay area, but also serving families throughout the state of Florida.