probate in florida

An Aunt's estate is being handled in Florida by another family member who seems reluctant to provide details to other members of the family who are out of state. When the will is probated, is there a public record of the will and the contents of the estate accessible. If so, how would someone out of state get copies of such documents.

(01-30-2001)

You need to know the city/state where the person died and also their date of death (month and year). Then contact the county courthouse for that city to ask if the will has been filed yet (it is usually required that the will be filed within 30 days after the person died). If it has been, then you can order photocopy of it mailed to you for a small fee.

The entire contents of the probate file are not available for public viewing until the estate is closed and the executor has finished their work, usually within 1-9 months.

If the executor seems to be more cooperative in providing information to family members in Florida, then try contacting the Florida relatives to see if they know anything about what is going on.

I know that it seems somewhat difficult that the executor is not honest enough to be forthcoming with information, but they are in somewhat of an awkward position because they can't really know what is going to be distributed until they have finished processing all of the paperwork to handle the affairs, debts, taxes, etc. of taking care of the estate. Hopefully they will keep in touch with you before too long, if they know how to reach you.

SINCERELY,

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