What to Do When Someone Dies in Florida
A step-by-step guide for the first days and weeks after losing a loved one. Take your time - most of these don't need to happen immediately.
Use this timeline to handle immediate post-death tasks in the right order before you move into probate, asset transfer, or executor paperwork.
If You Are the Named Executor in Florida
In plain terms: if you are named to handle the estate, there is one time-sensitive task in the first 10 days. File the original will with the county circuit court. Everything else can follow at a steadier pace. The details below explain exactly how.
If you are the named personal representative of a Florida estate, the procedural clock starts at death. Florida Statutes § 732.901 requires the custodian of the will to deposit it with the clerk of the circuit court of the county where the decedent lived within 10 days of receiving information that the decedent has died. Florida calls the role "personal representative" rather than "executor"; the duties are the same. The first-steps below are written for that role; the family-first timeline below covers immediate practical tasks that overlap with it.
- Deposit the original will with the circuit court clerk within 10 days
Florida Statutes § 732.901 requires the person in possession of the original will to deposit it with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the decedent lived within 10 days of receiving information that the decedent has died. This deadline runs even if formal probate is not yet open.
Statute: Fla. Stat. § 732.901
- Order 10–15 certified death certificates
Florida financial institutions, title-transfer agencies, and the probate court each typically require their own original. Order through the funeral home or directly from the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics.
- Secure the deceased’s property and digital assets
Lock the home, change the mailbox forward, secure the vehicle, freeze credit on the decedent’s SSN, and document property condition before anything is moved. This protects the estate from depreciation and theft claims.
- File the Petition for Administration and request Letters of Administration
Florida formal administration generally requires attorney representation for the personal representative. The attorney files the Petition for Administration and supporting documents with the circuit court. Once granted, the court issues Letters of Administration, the document banks and title agencies require to act on behalf of the estate. Florida Statutes § 733.301 sets the order of preference for personal representative appointment; § 733.302 sets the qualifications.
Statute: Fla. Stat. §§ 733.301, 733.302, 733.502
- Notify financial institutions and request frozen statements
Banks, brokerages, and retirement custodians each have a death-notification process. Submit a certified death certificate and request statements as of date-of-death valuation. These statements feed the Inventory the court requires once Letters issue, and the Notice to Creditors process under Fla. Stat. § 733.2121.
Grief is exhausting. It's okay to ask for help, take breaks, and handle things one step at a time.
Timeline of Tasks
Start with the immediate tasks. Open each later phase as you reach it.
First 24-48 Hours
First Week
First Month
Ongoing (Weeks to Months)
Who to Notify
Documents to Gather
Death Certificates
Many estates start with 10-15 certified copies because banks, insurers, property-transfer contacts, and agencies may ask for them.
How to get death certificates →Will & Trust Documents
Look in safe deposit boxes, home safes, attorney files, and records folders.
Probate guide →Financial Statements
Bank statements, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and recent tax returns.
Asset transfer guide →What Comes Next?
After the first 30 days, you may need to start probate or transfer assets. Use the Florida assessment to sort what may apply.
More Florida Resources
Explore the rest of the Florida probate hub.