The PR must engage a Florida licensed attorney to represent the PR and the estate. The decedent's assets are then used to pay any creditor's claims, estate expenses and taxes. What remains after these payments is passed on to the decedent's heirs or devisees according to applicable statutes or a valid will admitted to probate. Not all of the decedent's property may pass through probate. Some property may pass outside of probate.
Probate can be expensive.
Anyone may examine the probate file and will or personally attend probate hearings. There are several strategies one may use to avoid probate and the costs, delays and lack of privacy associated with it. One useful strategy is to hold property in a revocable living trust. Another is to hold property jointly with the one you wish to own the property at your death. Life insurance proceeds may also avoid probate when paid to an individual or trust named as beneficiary.