Royal Palm Beach Probate Attorneys
Royal Palm Beach, FL Probate Process for Residents & Non-Residents
After a parent dies, the hardest part of probate is often not knowing how long it will take or what comes next. Florida Probate Law Firm, PLLC, is a probate-only firm. Our Royal Palm Beach probate attorney gives families a clear timeline from the first call and then works to keep the estate on it. We handle the court filings, track every deadline, and keep you updated on where things stand at each stage.
Our consultations are free, and our intake team aims to connect you with an attorney during your first call. Call (561) 210-5500 to get a realistic picture of your family’s timeline.
How Long Does Probate Take for a Royal Palm Beach Estate?
Most formal probate cases in Palm Beach County take at least several months because creditors have 3 months from the first publication of the notice to creditors to file claims. A summary administration with agreeable heirs can often wrap up much sooner, sometimes within weeks of filing.
The table below shows the main phases of a formal administration and how long each one typically takes once the case is open.
| Phase | What Happens | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Opening the estate | Will deposited, petition filed, personal representative appointed | A few weeks, depending on the court’s queue |
| Notice period | Notice to creditors published and notice of administration served | Starts right after appointment |
| Creditor window | Creditors file claims, and the estate reviews them | At least 3 months from first publication |
| Asset work | Inventory filed, accounts collected, home sold or transferred | Overlaps the creditor window, often longer if a sale is involved |
| Closing | Final accounting, distributions, and discharge | Generally within 12 months of appointment unless extended |
Every estate moves at its own pace, and a few predictable issues add time. Knowing the phases up front helps your family plan around them instead of waiting by the phone.
Some estates can skip most of these phases. Under section 735.201, summary administration is available when the estate is worth $150,000 or less, not counting creditor-exempt property such as a protected homestead, or when the death happened more than two years ago. We check for that shortcut first, because it can save your family months.
Deadlines Your Family Shouldn't Miss
Several Florida probate deadlines start running upon death or upon notice, and some can’t be extended once they pass. Missing one can cost the family property or rights that are hard to recover.
These are the deadlines we calendar on every Royal Palm Beach estate:
- Will deposit: Whoever has the original will must deposit it with the clerk within 10 days of learning of the death under section 732.901.
- Homestead election: A surviving spouse who wants a one-half interest in the homestead instead of a life estate must elect within six months of the death.
- Elective share: A surviving spouse generally must elect within six months after service of the notice of administration, and no later than two years after the death, under section 732.2135.
- Will challenges: Most objections to the will, venue, or jurisdiction must be filed within three months after the notice of administration is served.
- Federal estate tax return: For the rare estate large enough to owe federal estate tax, the return is due nine months after the death unless extended.
- Outside limit on claims: Most creditor claims are barred two years after the death under section 733.710.
We track these dates from the first meeting so your family doesn’t have to. If a deadline is close when you call, tell us right away so we can act on it first.
What Slows a Royal Palm Beach Estate Down?
Most delays stem from a handful of familiar problems, and nearly all of them can be avoided with early planning. Here’s what we watch for in Royal Palm Beach estates.
A Missing Original Will
Florida courts strongly prefer the original will, and proving a lost will requires additional evidence and time. Searching the house, any safe deposit box, and the files of the attorney who drafted it before the petition is filed saves weeks later.
Heirs Who Are Hard to Reach
Every beneficiary or heir is entitled to notice, and some must sign documents. A relative who doesn’t answer email or lives overseas can stall a case, so we collect current contact information during the first meeting and follow up on a schedule.
A House That Isn’t Ready to Sell
Homes that need repairs, have tenants, or carry unpaid property taxes take longer to sell through an estate. Insurance can also become an issue once a house sits empty. We help families decide early whether to sell as-is or prepare the home, since that choice often drives the overall timeline.
A Disputed Creditor Claim
When the personal representative objects to a claim, the creditor has a limited time to file a lawsuit, and the estate can’t close until the dispute is resolved. Reviewing claims promptly keeps that clock from running longer than it has to.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House Through Probate?
Selling a home through a Florida estate usually adds a few months to the timeline, depending on the market and the home’s condition. The personal representative can list the property once appointed, but the closing depends on having the right authority in place.
When the Will Grants a Power of Sale
Many wills give the personal representative a power to sell real estate. In that case, Florida law lets the personal representative sell without a separate court order, and the title company works from the letters of administration and the will.
When the Court Must Approve the Sale
If there’s no will, or the will doesn’t grant a power of sale, section 733.613 requires the court to authorize or confirm the sale before title passes. We file that petition alongside the listing so the closing date doesn’t slip while the paperwork catches up.
Planning Around the Creditor Window
A sale can close during the creditor period, but the proceeds usually stay in the estate until claims are resolved. Families who understand that sequence up front avoid the frustration of a sold house and a delayed distribution.
How We Keep Your Estate Moving
Our goal is to finish your parent’s estate as efficiently as the law allows, without cutting corners that cause problems later. That comes down to a few consistent habits.
Here is how we approach every Royal Palm Beach estate:
- We confirm the right type of administration before filing, so the case doesn’t have to be refiled.
- We prepare complete petitions with every required signature, which avoids rejections from the court.
- We publish the notice to creditors as soon as the personal representative is appointed.
- We start collecting assets and records while the creditor window runs, instead of after it closes.
- We send updates at each milestone, so you’re never guessing about the status.
Families who start early and keep paperwork moving tend to finish sooner. Our job is to make that easy for you, with a short list of what we need from you at each stage and nothing more.
What Happens After the Estate Closes?
The case ends when the court enters an order of final discharge. Under section 733.901, that order releases the personal representative and bars most later actions against them.
If Property Turns Up Later
Sometimes a forgotten account or refund appears after the estate is closed. Florida law allows a subsequent administration to handle newly discovered property, so the family doesn’t have to start over from the beginning. We can reopen the matter for that limited purpose and move the asset to the right person.
The Reasons Royal Palm Beach Families Call Us
Probate is the only area of law we practice, so your parent’s estate gets attorneys who handle these cases every day. Thomas R. Walser, Esq. and Michael Bracchi, Esq. lead our practice, and you’ll speak with our attorneys directly.
Families work with us because:
- You can reach an attorney fast. Our intake team works to connect you with one of our attorneys during your first call.
- The process works around your life. Digital signing, online document sharing, and video consultations mean you don’t need to visit an office.
- Out-of-state family members are welcome. Relatives anywhere in the country can take part without traveling to Florida.
- Costs are explained early. We bill hourly and explain the deposit before you hire us.
- We cover the whole state. We serve all 67 Florida counties from our Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale offices.
The first consultation is free and comes with no obligation. Call (561) 210-5500 to learn how we can help your family.
Probate for Royal Palm Beach and Western Palm Beach County
Royal Palm Beach estates are opened in Palm Beach County, where the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit hears probate cases. Filings go through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, so routine estates rarely require anyone in the family to appear in person.
Nearby Communities We Serve
We also help families in Wellington, Loxahatchee Groves, Greenacres, and West Palm Beach. Royal Palm Beach is one of the many communities covered by our Palm Beach County probate services. Estates from each of these communities follow the same Fifteenth Circuit process, so the timeline we map out at your first meeting reflects how cases here actually move.
Estates That Cross County Lines
If your parent lived in Royal Palm Beach but owned property elsewhere in Florida, that property is generally handled within the same Palm Beach County estate. Real estate in another state is different, and it usually needs a separate proceeding where that property sits. We help families coordinate both so one case doesn’t hold up the other.
Our Royal Palm Beach Probate Attorneys Answer Your Questions
Florida probate can move noticeably faster when all the heirs agree, because beneficiaries can sign waivers and consents that skip certain notices and formal steps. Agreement can also make summary administration possible for a qualifying estate. The creditor claim period still applies in formal administration, so cooperation shortens the process but doesn’t eliminate it.
Beneficiaries of a Florida estate usually receive their shares after the creditor claim period ends and any valid claims are paid. The personal representative can sometimes make a partial distribution earlier when enough assets remain to cover debts and expenses. Distributing too soon can make the personal representative personally responsible for unpaid claims.
Most routine Florida probate cases are handled through written filings, so many families never attend a hearing. When a hearing is needed, such as for a disputed claim or a sale requiring court approval, your attorney typically handles it. We’ll tell you in advance if anything requires your participation.
A family member who paid for a parent’s funeral can usually be reimbursed from the Florida estate. Florida law gives reasonable funeral, burial, and grave marker expenses a high priority for payment, up to $6,000 in total ahead of most other debts. Keep every receipt so the expense can be documented.
The estate inventory filed in a Florida probate case is confidential and isn’t open to the general public. Access is limited to the personal representative, their attorney, interested persons, and anyone with a court order. Most other documents in the court file are generally public records.
Schedule a Consultation With a Royal Palm Beach Probate Attorney
Uncertainty about timing makes a hard season harder. A clear plan and a team that tracks every deadline can take much of that weight off your shoulders, so you can spend more of your energy on your family.
Call Florida Probate Law Firm at (561) 210-5500 or schedule a consultation to talk with an attorney about your parent’s Royal Palm Beach estate. The consultation is free.
