Losing a loved one is difficult enough without having to decode Florida’s probate court process, and Eden Law Group, P.A. is here to walk your family through every step.
Probate is the court supervised process that transfers legal ownership of a person’s property after death to the people or organizations entitled to receive it. If you own assets in your own name when you die, whether or not you have a last will and testament, those assets generally must pass through the probate court in the county where you were domiciled.
For residents of Citrus County, that means your estate will be probated locally, with proceedings handled through the circuit court here in Inverness. If you also owned property outside Florida, such as a vacation home, a separate ancillary probate proceeding will likely be required in that state as well.
As your probate attorney, John H. Eden IV guides personal representatives and beneficiaries through every stage of probate administration, from opening the estate to final distribution, while looking for opportunities to simplify and shorten the process wherever Florida law allows.
Most clients who meet with our estate planning attorney ask the same question: how do I keep my family out of probate court? The answer usually involves proper use of a revocable living trust, correct titling of assets, and a well drafted pour-over will as a backup safety net.
Avoiding probate offers real, practical advantages for the people you leave behind:
Florida probate follows a defined legal path, and understanding the steps helps families set realistic expectations. Formal administration generally applies once an estate exceeds Florida’s small estate threshold and includes real property, and the process typically runs four to six months at a minimum, often longer when real estate or out of state property is involved.
Costs add up quickly under formal administration. A modest $100,000 estate consisting of a home, bank accounts, and investments can easily run $6,000 or more once court costs, publication fees, the personal representative’s fee, and attorney’s fees are added together, and property owned outside Florida increases that total further through ancillary proceedings.
The general procedural path looks like this:
Meeting with a living trust attorney before a health crisis or death occurs gives your family far more options than waiting until probate becomes necessary. Proper planning today can prevent a court proceeding tomorrow, and it protects the people you care about from unnecessary expense and delay.
Families throughout Citrus County ask our office similar questions when a loved one passes away or when they are planning ahead to protect their own estate. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.
Does having a last will and testament avoid probate?
If my spouse and I own everything jointly, do we still need probate planning?
How does a revocable living trust actually avoid probate?
What happens if I die without a will or trust?
Probate avoidance planning works best as part of a complete estate plan. Our office also assists Citrus County families with the following related services.
Whether you are currently serving as a personal representative navigating an open probate case or you want to put a plan in place so your own family never has to, Eden Law Group, P.A. offers a free initial consultation to discuss your situation. John H. Eden IV brings over 34 years of experience guiding Citrus County, Sumter, Hernando, and Marion County families through probate administration and probate avoidance planning, with clear flat fee quotes once your needs are understood.
