Title: In Re: Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules - 2019 Fast-Track Report

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC19-2071 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA PROBATE RULES—2019 
FAST-TRACK REPORT. 
 
January 16, 2020 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Florida Bar’s Probate Rules Committee (Committee) has filed a “fast-
track” out-of-cycle report proposing amendments to the Florida Probate Rules in 
response to recent legislation.  See Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.140(e)(1).  We have 
jurisdiction1 and adopt the amendments as proposed. 
 
The Committee proposes amendments to the following rules: 5.015 (General 
Definitions); 5.043 (Deposit of Wills and Codicils); 5.120 (Administrator Ad 
Litem and Guardian Ad Litem); 5.200 (Petition for Administration); 5.210 
(Probate of Wills Without Administration); 5.215 (Authenticated Copy of Will); 
and 5.230 (Commission to Prove Will). 
                                          
 
 
1.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
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The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar 
unanimously approved the Committee’s proposals.  The Committee did not publish 
the proposals before filing them with the Court.  After considering the 
Committee’s proposals and the relevant legislation, we amend the Florida Probate 
Rules as proposed by the Committee.  The more significant amendments are 
discussed below. 
First, pertaining to rule 5.015, subdivision (b)(1) is amended to add “whether 
in paper or electronic form,” after “original” to make it clear that a “certified copy” 
can apply to electronic wills.  See ch. 2019-71, § 37, Laws of Fla. (enacting § 
732.526, Fla. Stat. (2019)).  As amended, subdivision (b)(1) provides:  
“ ‘[C]ertified copy’ means a copy of a document signed and verified as a true copy 
by the officer to whose custody the original, whether in paper or electronic form, is 
entrusted.” 
Second, rule 5.043 is amended to add language requiring that electronic 
wills, in addition to paper wills, be maintained in their original format for twenty 
years after submission.  See ch. 2019-71, § 37, Laws of Fla. (enacting § 732.526, 
Fla. Stat. (2019)).  Specifically, “including but not limited to an electronic will,” is 
added after “executed will or codicil.”  As amended, the sentence reads: 
“Notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, and unless the court orders otherwise, 
 
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any original executed will or codicil, including but not limited to an electronic will, 
deposited with the court . . . must be retained . . . .” 
Accordingly, the Florida Probate Rules are amended as reflected in the 
appendix to this opinion.  New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are 
indicated by struck-through type.  The amendments shall take effect immediately 
upon the release of this opinion.  Because the amendments were not published for 
comment prior to their adoption, interested persons shall have seventy-five days 
from the date of this opinion in which to file comments with the Court.2 
                                          
 
 
2.  All comments must be filed with the Court on or before March 31, 2020, 
with a certificate of service verifying that a copy has been served on the 
Committee Chair, Jeffrey Scott Goethe, Barnes Walker, Goethe, Perron & Shea, 
PLLC, 3119 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL, 34205-3350, and on the Bar 
Staff Liaison to the Committee, Krys Godwin, 651 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, 
Florida 32399-2300, kgodwin@floridabar.org, as well as a separate request for oral 
argument if the person filing the comment wishes to participate in oral argument, 
which may be scheduled in this case.  The Committee Chair has until April 21, 
2020, to file a response to any comments filed with the Court.  If filed by an 
attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be 
electronically filed via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (Portal) in accordance 
with In re Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court of Florida via the Florida 
Courts E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC13-7 (Feb. 18, 2013).  If 
filed by a nonlawyer or a lawyer not licensed to practice in Florida, the comment 
may be, but is not required to be, filed via the Portal.  Comments filed via the 
Portal must be submitted in Microsoft Word 97 or higher.  See In re Electronic 
Filing in the Florida Supreme Court, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC17-27 (May 9, 
2017).  Any person unable to submit a comment electronically must mail or hand-
deliver the originally signed comment to the Florida Supreme Court, Office of the 
Clerk, 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1927; no additional 
copies are required or will be accepted. 
 
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It is so ordered. 
CANADY, C.J., and POLSTON, LABARGA, LAWSON, and MUÑIZ, JJ., 
concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – The Florida Probate Rules Committee 
 
Jeffrey Scott Goethe, Chair, Florida Probate Rules Committee, Bradenton, Florida, 
Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, and Krys Godwin, Staff Liaison, The Florida 
Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
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APPENDIX 
RULE 5.015. 
GENERAL DEFINITIONS 
(a) 
[No Changes] 
(b) 
Specific Definitions. When used in these rules 
(1) 
“certified copy” means a copy of a document signed and 
verified as a true copy by the officer to whose custody the original, whether in 
paper or electronic form, is entrusted; 
(2)-(7) 
[No Changes] 
Committee Notes 
Rule History 
1977-2008 Revision: 
[No Changes] 
2020: Revision: Subdivision (b)(1) amended to reference electronic original 
documents consistent with section 732.526, Florida Statutes. Committee notes 
revised. 
Statutory References 
§ 1.01, Fla. Stat. Definitions. 
§ 393.063, Fla. Stat. Definitions. 
§ 393.12, Fla. Stat. Capacity; appointment of guardian advocate. 
§ 731.201, Fla. Stat. General definitions. 
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate. 
§ 736.0103, Fla. Stat. Definitions. 
§ 738.102, Fla. Stat. Definitions. 
§ 739.102, Fla. Stat. Definitions. 
§ 744.102, Fla. Stat. Definitions. 
 
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RULE 5.043. 
DEPOSIT OF WILLS AND CODICILS 
Notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, and unless the court orders 
otherwise, any original executed will or codicil, including but not limited to an 
electronic will, deposited with the court must be retained by the clerk in its original 
form and must not be destroyed or disposed of by the clerk for 20 years after 
submission regardless of whether the will or codicil has been permanently recorded 
as defined by Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.430. 
Committee Notes 
 
2012 Adoption. 
[No Changes] 
Rule History 
2012 Revision: New Rule. 
2020 Revision: Added reference to deposit of electronic wills consistent 
with section 732.526, Florida Statutes. Committee notes revised. 
Statutory References 
§ 731.201(16), (40), Fla. Stat. General definitions. 
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate. 
§ 732.901, Fla. Stat. Production of wills. 
Rule References 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.430 Retention of court records. 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.525 Electronic filing. 
 
RULE 5.120. 
ADMINISTRATOR AD LITEM AND GUARDIAN AD 
LITEM 
(a)-(g) 
[No Changes] 
Committee Notes 
Rule History 
 
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1977-2012 Revision: 
[No Changes] 
2014 Revision: Amends subdivision (b)(1) to conform to Fla. R. Jud. 
Admin.Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425. Committee notes revised.  
2020 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in 
committee notes. 
Statutory References 
§ 393.12, Fla. Stat. Capacity; appointment of guardian advocate. 
§ 731.303, Fla. Stat. Representation. 
§ 733.308, Fla. Stat. Administrator ad litem. 
§ 733.708, Fla. Stat. Compromise. 
§ 744.3025, Fla. Stat. Claims of minors. 
§ 744.3085, Fla. Stat. Guardian advocates. 
§ 744.387, Fla. Stat. Settlement of claims. 
§ 744.391, Fla. Stat. Actions by and against guardian or ward. 
§ 744.446, Fla. Stat. Conflicts of interest; prohibited activities; court 
approval; breach of fiduciary duty. 
§ 985.43, Fla. Stat. Predisposition reports; other evaluations. 
§ 985.441, Fla. Stat. Commitment. 
§ 985.455, Fla. Stat. Other dispositional issues. 
Rule References 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.041 Service of pleadings and documents. 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.516 Service of pleadings and documents. 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the Filing of Sensitive 
Information. 
 
 
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RULE 5.200. 
PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATION 
The petition for administration shall be verified by the petitioner and shall 
contain: 
(a)-(j)  
[No Changes] 
Committee Notes 
Rule History 
1977-2012 Revision: 
[No Changes] 
2014 Revision: Subdivision (c) amended to conform to Fla. R. Jud. 
Admin.Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425. Committee notes revised. 
2020 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in 
committee notes. 
Statutory References 
§ 731.201(23), Fla. Stat. General definitions. 
§ 731.301, Fla. Stat. Notice. 
§ 732.522, Fla. Stat. Method and place of execution. 
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate. 
§ 733.202, Fla. Stat. Petition. 
§ 733.301, Fla. Stat. Preference in appointment of personal representative. 
§ 733.302, Fla. Stat. Who may be appointed personal representative. 
§ 733.303, Fla. Stat. Persons not qualified. 
§ 733.304, Fla. Stat. Nonresidents. 
§ 733.305, Fla. Stat. Trust companies and other corporations and 
associations. 
Rule References 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.020 Pleadings; verification; motions. 
 
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Fla. Prob. R. 5.040 Notice. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.041 Service of pleadings and documents. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.180 Waiver and consent. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.201 Notice of petition for administration. 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.516 Service of pleadings and documents. 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the Filing of Sensitive 
Information. 
 
RULE 5.210. 
PROBATE OF WILLS WITHOUT ADMINISTRATION 
(a)-(d) 
[No Changes] 
Committee Notes 
Examples illustrating when a will might be admitted to probate are when an 
instrument (such as a will or trust agreement) gives the decedent a power 
exercisable by will, such as the power to appoint a successor trustee or a 
testamentary power of appointment. In each instance, the will of the person 
holding the power has no legal significance until admitted to probate. There may 
be no assets, creditors’ issues, or other need for a probate beyond admitting the 
will to establish the exercise or non-exercise of such powers. 
Rule History 
1975-2011 Revision: 
[No Changes] 
2014 Revision: Subdivision (a)(3) amended to conform to Fla. R. Jud. 
Admin.Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425. Committee notes revised. 
2020 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in 
committee notes. 
Statutory References 
§ 731.201, Fla. Stat. General definitions. 
§ 731.301, Fla. Stat. Notice. 
 
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§ 732.502, Fla. Stat. Execution of wills. 
§ 732.503, Fla. Stat. Self-proof of will. 
§ 732.523, Fla. Stat. Self-proof of electronic will. 
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate. 
§ 733.103, Fla. Stat. Effect of probate. 
§ 733.201, Fla. Stat. Proof of wills. 
§ 733.202, Fla. Stat. Petition. 
§ 733.204, Fla. Stat. Probate of a will written in a foreign language. 
§ 733.205, Fla. Stat. Probate of notarial will. 
§ 733.206, Fla. Stat. Probate of will of resident after foreign probate. 
§ 733.207, Fla. Stat. Establishment and probate of lost or destroyed will. 
§ 734.104, Fla. Stat. Foreign wills; admission to record; effect on title. 
Rule References 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.015 General definitions. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.020 Pleadings, verification; motions. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.205(a)(7) Filing evidence of death. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.215 Authenticated copy of will. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.216 Will written in foreign language. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.230 Commission to prove will. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.240 Notice of administration. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.270 Revocation of probate. 
Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the Filing of Sensitive 
Information. 
 
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RULE 5.215. 
AUTHENTICATED COPY OF WILL 
An authenticated copy of a will may be admitted to probate if the original 
could be admitted to probate in Florida. 
Committee Notes 
Rule History 
2002-2003 Revision: 
[No Changes] 
2020 Revision. Committee notes revised. 
Statutory References 
§ 732.523, Fla. Stat. Self-proof of electronic will. 
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate. 
§ 733.205, Fla. Stat. Probate of notarial will. 
§ 733.206, Fla. Stat. Probate of will of resident after foreign probate. 
§ 734.102, Fla. Stat. Ancillary administration. 
§ 734.1025, Fla. Stat. Nonresident decedent’s testate estate with property not 
exceeding $50,000 in this state; determination of claims. 
§ 734.104, Fla. Stat. Foreign wills; admission to record; effect on title. 
Rule References 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.200 Petition for administration. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.210 Probate of wills without administration. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.470 Ancillary administration. 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.475 Ancillary administration, short form. 
 
RULE 5.230. 
COMMISSION TO PROVE WILL 
(a)-(d) 
[No Changes] 
 
 
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Committee Notes 
Rule History 
1975-2013 Revision: 
[No Changes] 
2020 Revision: Committee notes revised. 
Statutory References 
§ 92.50, Fla. Stat. Oaths, affidavits, and acknowledgments; who may take or 
administer; requirements. 
§ 117.215, Fla. Stat. Relation to other laws. 
§ 733.101, Fla. Stat. Venue of probate proceedings. 
§ 732.522, Fla. Stat. Method and place of execution. 
§ 732.523, Fla. Stat. Self-proof of electronic will. 
§ 733.201, Fla. Stat. Proof of wills. 
§ 22 U.S.C. § 4215 Notarial acts, oaths, affirmations, affidavits, and 
depositions; fees. 
Rule References 
Fla. Prob. R. 5.050 Transfer of proceedings. 
Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.060 Transfers of actions.