Probate is the legal process used to transfer a person’s assets after death. If a loved one lived in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Broward County, the probate case is typically filed in the Broward County Probate Division. Fort Lauderdale probate attorney John Clarke helps families navigate the Florida probate process and settle estates efficiently while ensuring that assets are distributed according to Florida law. John Clarke also handles probate cases in Palm Beach and Miami Dade counties.

If a decedent dies without a will or trust, his estate gets distributed to his next of kin according to Florida’s law of intestacy (Florida Statutes, §§ 732.101 -732.111).

Florida law provides for several types of probate actions, depending on the complexity and the number of assets in the estate. A formal probate administration is required for an estate that contains more than $75,000 of assets when the probate is filed within two years of the decedent’s death. A simpler summary probate administration is allowed for smaller estates or in situations where decedent has been dead more than 24 months (Florida Statutes, § 735.201).  When a decedent’s estate consists of minimal personal property, the estate may be disposed of in a simple process that does not require notification of the estate’s creditors  (Florida Statutes, Section 735.301) For most probate actions, Florida law requires that you be represented by an attorney. 

If a loved one has recently passed away and you're unsure how to settle their estate call attorney John Clarke at (305)467-5560 for a free, no-obligation  10 minute phone consultation!