Florida Small Estate Checker

The limit doubled to $150,000 on July 1, 2026 — a lot of the Florida probate advice still online hasn't caught up.

Fla. Stat. §735.201, 735.301 (Ch. 2026-57) FigureMyTax Editorial Team Free · no sign-up

Does this Florida estate qualify?

Enter the estate's non-exempt value to see which simplified path likely fits.

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Likely path for this Florida estate
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$150,000, not $75,000 — a threshold that changed mid-2026

Confirmed against the Florida Legislature's own session law: Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida (CS/HB 1337), amended §735.201 effective July 1, 2026, raising the summary administration threshold from $75,000 to $150,000. A great deal of published material online still shows the old figure — for any death on or after July 1, 2026, $150,000 is correct.

Two independent qualifying tests, either one works

Summary administration (§735.201) applies when non-exempt estate assets are $150,000 or less, or when the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years — regardless of the estate's value in that second case. Protected homestead never counts toward the $150,000 figure.

No personal representative, just an Order of Distribution

Unlike formal administration, summary administration doesn't appoint a personal representative at all. Instead, the court issues an Order of Distribution, and the recipients named directly in that order are the ones who sign the deed and collect the estate's assets.

An even smaller, faster track exists

Disposition without administration (§735.301) skips court-supervised probate entirely for truly tiny estates — but only when there's no real estate involved at all, and non-exempt personal property doesn't exceed the decedent's funeral expenses plus their last 60 days of medical bills.

Statewide threshold, county-by-county filing

Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, and Hillsborough among Florida's busiest probate dockets — the $150,000 figure and the 2-year alternative apply identically no matter which circuit court handles the petition.

Florida small estate — frequently asked questions

What is Florida's summary administration limit?

$150,000 or less in non-exempt estate assets, effective for deaths on or after July 1, 2026 under Chapter 2026-57 (formerly $75,000) — or, regardless of value, whenever the decedent has been dead for more than 2 years. Protected homestead doesn't count toward this limit.

Is $150,000 the correct current figure, or has it changed again?

$150,000 is correct for deaths on or after July 1, 2026 — a great deal of published material still cites the old $75,000 figure, which applied only to deaths before that date.

Does summary administration appoint a personal representative?

No — it produces an Order of Distribution rather than Letters of Administration, so the recipients named in that order are the ones who sign the deed and collect the assets directly.

Is there an even simpler process for very small estates?

Yes — disposition without administration, available only when the estate has no real estate at all, and non-exempt personal property doesn't exceed preferred funeral expenses plus the decedent's last 60 days of medical bills.

Does having a will block Florida's summary administration?

No — summary administration is available whether or not the decedent left a will, though if there's a will, it must not direct formal administration.

This calculator provides an estimate for general guidance only and is not legal advice. Figures are based on Florida Statutes §735.201, §735.301, as amended by Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida. Actual eligibility depends on the estate's full facts. Confirm with the county circuit court or a licensed Florida attorney before acting.