Probate

When a loved one passes away, grief is the only thing anyone should have to manage. Unfortunately, the Florida probate process often adds complexity, deadlines, creditor claims, and family conflict at exactly the wrong moment.

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Bechert & Associates, P.A. has guided hundreds of South Florida families through the Florida probate process with efficiency, compassion, and the legal expertise to protect the estate from creditor overreach, family disputes, and costly mistakes. Our Pompano Beach probate attorneys handle the legal burden so you can focus on what truly matters.

What Is the Florida Probate Process?

Florida probate is the court-supervised legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. The process typically involves:

(1) Filing a petition with the circuit court in the county where the decedent resided

(2) Validating the decedent's will, if one exists

(3) Appointing a personal representative (executor) to manage the estate

(4) Identifying and notifying creditors

(5) Paying valid debts and taxes

(6) Distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries.
Florida probate law is governed by the Florida Probate Code (Chapters 731-735 of the Florida Statutes). There are two primary forms of probate administration in Florida: Formal Administration and Summary Administration.

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Florida Probate Services We Provide

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Formal Administration (Standard Probate)
Formal administration is required for most estates. A personal representative (called an executor in other states) is appointed by the court, creditors are given notice and time to file claims, debts are paid, and assets are ultimately distributed to beneficiaries. Our attorneys guide personal representatives through every step, from the initial petition to the final accounting, ensuring every requirement is met on time and every decision is legally sound.

Summary Administration
Summary administration is available for smaller estates specifically, those with Florida assets worth
$75,000 or less, or estates where the decedent has been dead for more than two years. It is a significantly faster and less expensive process than formal administration. Our attorneys evaluate your loved one's estate to determine the most efficient path through probate.

Personal Representative Representation
Being named personal representative of an estate is both an honor and a serious legal responsibility. Personal representatives can be held personally liable for mistakes made during administration. Our attorneys advise and represent personal representatives throughout the process, helping them fulfill their duties correctly and efficiently protecting them from personal liability while honoring the
decedent's wishes.

Beneficiary Representation
If you are a beneficiary of an estate and have concerns about how it is being administered, delays, mismanagement, disputes about asset valuation, or a personal representative who is not acting in the estate's best interests, our attorneys can represent your interests and take action when necessary.

Will Contests and Probate Litigation
Not all probate proceedings are straightforward. Wills can be contested on grounds of undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, fraud, or improper execution. Disputes can arise between beneficiaries or between heirs and a personal representative. Our attorneys have the litigation experience to handle contested probate matters aggressively and effectively.

Trust Administration
Estates with living trusts typically avoid probate but still require careful trust administration. The successor trustee must manage and distribute trust assets in accordance with the trust document and Florida law. Our attorneys advise successor trustees on their duties, help them navigate distributions to beneficiaries, and defend them against claims of breach of fiduciary duty.