What to Do When Someone Dies in Florida

If You Are the Named Executor in Florida

If you are the named personal representative of a Florida estate, the procedural clock starts at death. Florida Statutes § 732.901 requires the custodian of the will to deposit it with the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the decedent lived within 10 days of receiving information that the decedent has died. Florida calls the role "personal representative" rather than "executor"; the duties are the same. The first-steps below are written for that role; the family-first timeline below covers immediate practical tasks that overlap with it.

1. Deposit the original will with the circuit court clerk within 10 days

   Florida Statutes § 732.901 requires the person in possession of the original will to deposit it with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the decedent lived within 10 days of receiving information that the decedent has died. This deadline runs even if formal probate is not yet open.

   Statute: Fla. Stat. § 732.901

   Florida probate forms by county →

2. Order 10–15 certified death certificates

   Florida financial institutions, title-transfer agencies, and the probate court each typically require their own original. Order through the funeral home or directly from the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.

   Florida death certificate guide →

3. Secure the deceased’s property and digital assets

   Lock the home, change the mailbox forward, secure the vehicle, freeze credit on the decedent’s SSN, and document property condition before anything is moved. This protects the estate from depreciation and theft claims.

4. File the Petition for Administration and request Letters of Administration

   Florida formal administration generally requires attorney representation for the personal representative. The attorney files the Petition for Administration and supporting documents with the circuit court. Once granted, the court issues Letters of Administration — the document banks and title agencies require to act on behalf of the estate. Florida Statutes § 733.301 sets the order of preference for personal representative appointment; § 733.302 sets the qualifications.

   Statute: Fla. Stat. §§ 733.301, 733.302, 733.502

   Florida personal representative duties guide →

5. Notify financial institutions and request frozen statements

   Banks, brokerages, and retirement custodians each have a death-notification process. Submit a certified death certificate and request statements as of date-of-death valuation. These statements feed the Inventory the court requires once Letters issue, and the Notice to Creditors process under Fla. Stat. § 733.2121.

   Florida asset transfer guide →