{"id":6510,"date":"2022-03-10T08:45:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourfloridaprobatelawyer.com\/?p=6510"},"modified":"2022-03-03T04:18:16","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T09:18:16","slug":"can-a-stepchild-be-a-personal-representative-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourfloridaprobatelawyer.com\/can-a-stepchild-be-a-personal-representative-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Stepchild be a Personal Representative in Florida?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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The traditional form of probate in Florida is formal administration<\/a>, which requires the appointment of a personal representative. In such cases, the personal representative is the individual appointed by a probate court to administer the decedent’s estate subject to probate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, the personal representative has a fiduciary duty to the decedent’s estate and beneficiaries. Typically, the personal representative is designated in the decedent’s last will<\/a>, as the testator may choose who will execute his\/her estate upon death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, can a stepchild be a personal representative in Florida? Keep reading to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Appointing a Stepchild as a Personal Representative Result in Disputes? – An Honest Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When talking to probate attorneys<\/a> with years of experience in the field, one will often hear about probate disputes involving stepfamilies, especially feuds between stepmothers and stepchildren from a decedent’s first marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonetheless, this scenario definitely does not represent the majority of cases, as the estate of individuals remarry with children from a previous relationship may be administered as smoothly as the estate of someone who did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, not only it is possible to designate a stepchild as a personal representative, but this approach is not uncanny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of who will be appointed as a personal representative, it is crucial to have an expert probate attorney<\/a> ensure that the last will has full legal compliance with no vague terms that could lead to unpleasant misunderstandings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can a Stepchild be a Personal Representative in Florida? – As Provided by Law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Florida law provides a specific set of rules to govern the appointment of personal representatives within state jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as the choice is pursuant to the limitations imposed by law, “any person who is sui juris and is a resident of Florida at the time of the death of the person whose estate<\/a> is to be administered is qualified to act as personal representative in Florida.” (Fla. Stat. \u00a7733.302)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a deceased person passes away with a last will, the probate court will typically corroborate the decedent’s choice by appointing the personal representative designated in the will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Florida Statutes \u00a7733.301 (1)(a) details the order of preference in the appointment of a personal representative, stating that “in granting letters of administration, the following order of preference shall be observed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n