Fl. Prob. R. 5.210

As amended through November 4, 2024

Rule 5.210 - PROBATE OF WILLS WITHOUT ADMINISTRATION

(a) Petition and Contents. A petition to admit a decedent's will to probate without administration shall be verified by the petitioner and shall contain:

(1) a statement of the interest of the petitioner, the petitioner's name and address, and the name and office address of the petitioner's attorney;

(2) the name and last known address of the decedent, last 4 digits of the decedent's social security number, date and place of death of the decedent, and state and county of the decedent's domicile;

(3) so far as is known, the names and addresses of the surviving spouse, if any, the beneficiaries and their relationships to the decedent, and the name and year of birth of any who are minors;

(4) a statement showing venue;

(5) a statement whether domiciliary or principal proceedings are pending in another state or country, if known, and the name and address of the foreign personal representative and the court issuing letters;

(6) a statement that there are no assets subject to administration in Florida;

(7) a statement identifying all unrevoked wills and codicils being presented for probate and a statement that the petitioner is unaware of any other unrevoked wills or codicils or, if the petitioner is aware of any other unrevoked wills or codicils, a statement why the other wills or codicils are not being probated; and

(8) a statement that the original of the decedent's last will is in the possession of the court or accompanies the petition, or that an authenticated copy of a will deposited with or probated in another jurisdiction or that an authenticated copy of a notarial will, the original of which is in the possession of a foreign notary, accompanies the petition.

(b) Service. The petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on those persons who would be entitled to service under rule 5.240.

(c) Objections. Objections to the validity of the will shall follow the form and procedure set forth in these rules pertaining to revocation of probate. Objections to the venue or jurisdiction of the court shall follow the form and procedure set forth in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.

(d) Order. An order admitting the will to probate shall include a finding that the will has been executed as required by law.

Fl. Prob. R. 5.210

Amended by 2021 WL 5050374, effective 10/28/2021; amended by 288 So.3d 565, effective 1/16/2020; amended by 139 So.3d 875, effective 4/22/2014; amended by 78 So.3d 1045, effective 10/1/2011; amended by 50 So.3d 578, effective 1/1/2011; amended by 959 So.2d 1170, effective 1/1/2008; amended by 824 So.2d 849, effective 5/2/2002; amended by 683 So.2d 78, effective 1/1/1997; amended by 531 So.2d 1261, effective 1/1/1989; amended by 458 So.2d 1079, effective 1/1/1985; amended by 344 So.2d 828, effective 7/1/1977; amended by 324 So.2d 38, effective 1/1/1976; adopted by 201 So. 2d 409, effective 1/1/1968.

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 Revision: Proof of will may be taken by any Florida circuit judge or clerk without issuance of commission.

1984 Revision: This rule has been completely revised to set forth the procedure for proving all wills except lost or destroyed wills and the title changed. The rule requires an oath attesting to the statutory requirements for execution of wills and the will must be proved before an order can be entered admitting it to probate. Former rules 5.280, 5.290, and 5.500 are included in this rule. Committee notes revised.

1988 Revision: Editorial and substantive changes. Change in (a)(3) to clarify which law determines validity of a notarial will; change in (a)(4) to clarify requirement that will of a Florida resident must comply with Florida law; adds new subdivision (b) to set forth required contents of petition for probate of will; moves former (b) to (c). Committee notes expanded; citation form change in committee notes.

1992 Revision: Editorial changes. Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in committee notes.

1996 Revision: Subdivision (a)(4) changed to allow authenticated copies of wills to be admitted to probate if the original is filed or deposited in another jurisdiction.

2002 Revision: Substantial revision to the rule setting forth the requirements of a petition to admit a will to probate when administration is not required. Self proof of wills is governed by the Florida Statutes. Former subdivision (a)(4) amended and transferred to new rule 5.215. Former subdivision (a)(5) amended and transferred to new rule 5.216.

2003 Revision: Committee notes revised.

2007 Revision: Existing text redesignated as subdivision (a) and editorial change made in (a)(7). New subdivisions (b) and (c) added to provide for service of the petition and the procedure for objections consistent with the procedures for probate of a will with administration. Committee notes revised.

2010 Revision: Subdivision (b) amended to reflect that service of the petition to admit a decedent's will to probate without administration shall be served on the persons who would be entitled to service of the notice of administration in a formal administration as set forth in rule 5.240. New subdivision (d) added to provide that any order admitting the decedent's will to probate without administration contain a finding that the will was executed as required by law. Committee notes revised.

2011 Revision: Subdivision (a)(2) amended to limit listing of decedent's social security number to last four digits.

2014 Revision: Subdivision (a)(3) amended to conform to Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.425. Committee notes revised.

Statutory References

§ 731.201, Fla. Stat. General definitions.

§ 731.301, Fla. Stat. Notice.

§ 732.502, Fla. Stat. Execution of wills.

§ 732.503, Fla. Stat. Self-proof of will.

§ 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. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the Filing of Sensitive Information.