Free Download – First Steps After a Death in Florida
How to Start Probate in Florida:
A Free First-Steps Checklist
How do you start probate in Florida? The first steps after someone dies in Florida are: secure certified copies of the death certificate, locate the will, protect estate property, determine whether probate is required, and consult a Florida probate attorney before taking any financial action. This free checklist walks Lee County families through every step, organized by timeframe so you always know what to do next.
Free. No obligation. Sent directly to your inbox.WHO THIS CHECKLIST IS FOR
Not Sure What To Do After Someone Dies in Florida? You’re Not Alone.
Most families navigating Florida probate have never done it before. Figuring out how to start probate, while grieving, is one of the hardest things a family can face. The first few weeks feel like a blur of questions, paperwork, and decisions that all seem urgent at once.
This checklist was built for that exact moment, the first steps after someone dies in Florida, organized in the order that actually matters.
Grieving Families
you’ve just lost someone. This gives you a calm, structured starting point before the legal process begins.
Out-of-State Heirs
Handling a Lee County estate from out of town? Know what has to happen and when, before you travel or make decisions remotely.
First-time personal Representatives
Named in the will as Personal Representative (what many people call and executor)? This checklist helps you understand your first responsibilities.
Families with Property
If the estate includes a home in Lee County, whether in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, or elsewhere, there are specific steps to protect it immediately.
WHY TIMING MATTERS
The First Steps After Someone Dies In Florida matter More Than Most Families Realize.
Florida probate isn’t just a paperwork process. Knowing how to start probate, and in what order, can affect property values, creditor timelines, and whether the Personal Representative takes on personal liability.
You don’t need to understand probate law. You need to know the right first steps, and what order to take them in.
Here is what families often don’t realize until it’s too late:
A vacant estate home in Lee County’s climate can deteriorate quickly, and standard homeowner’s insurance may not cover it without a specific vacancy rider.
Florida has a specific credit claim process. Paying estate debts before consulting an attorney, or paying them in the wrong order, can create personal liability for the Personal Representative.
Distributing personal property too early, without proper authorization, can delay or complicate the court process.
Not every estate requires formal probate. Acting as though one does, or doesn’t, without verifying can cost time and money unnecessarily.
The checklist addresses each of these clearly, without legal jargon, and in the order that matters.
INSIDE THE CHECKLIST
Five Sections Covering The First Steps of Florida Probate, Organized by Timeframe.
Immediate Practical Steps
Days 1-5 · Death certificates, locating the will, securing the home, notifying family
Does This Estate Require Probate?
Days 3-10 · How assets are titled, Summary Administration, when to call an attorney
Gathering Documents to Start Probate
Days 5-14 · Asset inventory, known debts, financial statements, beneficiary information
Protecting and Maintaining Estate Property
Days 1-30 · Insurance, bills, property condition, vacancy risks in Lee County’s climate
Organizing Next Steps & Professional Support
Days 14-30 · Attorney meeting, Personal Representative role, estate tracking, real estate planning
GET YOUR FREE CHECKLIST
Download the Free First-Steps Checklist
Knowing how to start probate in Florida is easier when you have the right first steps in front of you. enter your name and email and we’ll send the free Florida probate checklist directly to your inbox.
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This checklist is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every estate is different. Please consult a licensed Florida probate attorney for guidance specific to your situation.