Receiving a court notice in the mail can be a little unnerving. Many people have had little to no experience with legal proceedings. For example, Danielle received a notice of probate by certified mail, return receipt requested. She was not sure what action she was supposed to take, if any. What she does now may be determined by several factors.
After a personal representative is appointed by the probate court, the estate administration begins. Soon after, the personal representative serves a notice of probate – also called a notice of administration – on people who have an interest in the estate, including:
This notice serves multiple purposes:
The receipt of the notice of probate sets the process in motion for the recipient.
Interested parties who receive a notice of probate have three months to make any or all of the following challenges:
This deadline can only be extended if the personal representative misstated the time allowed for replying to the notice of probate.
An interested person also faces other deadlines that start with the receipt of the notice of probate:
Probate can be a complicated process, so consult with an attorney if you become involved in the probate of an estate.
As a Florida attorney board certified in Wills, Trusts & Estates, Attorney John Mangan helps his clients with probate and estate planning concerns. To schedule an appointment, call us at 772-324-9050 or fill out our Contact Form. Our office is conveniently located in Palm City, Florida. We also help clients throughout Florida, including Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, and Port St. Lucie.