Florida Probate Rule 5.200
RULE 5.200. PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATION
The petition for administration shall be verified by the
petitioner and shall contain:
(a) 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;
(b) 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;
(c) so far as is known, the names and addresses of the
surviving spouse, if any, the beneficiaries and their relationship to
the decedent and the year of birth of any beneficiaries who are
minors;
(d) a statement showing venue;
(e) the priority, under section 733.301, Florida Statutes, of
the person whose appointment as the personal representative is
sought, whether or not any other person has equal or higher
preference, and if so, their name and whether they will be served
with formal notice, and a statement that the person is qualified to
serve under the laws of Florida;
(f) 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;
(g) a statement of the approximate value and nature of the
assets;
(h) in an intestate estate, a statement that after the exercise
of reasonable diligence the petitioner is unaware of any unrevoked
wills or codicils, or if the petitioner is aware of any unrevoked wills
or codicils, a statement why the wills or codicils are not being
probated;
(i) in a testate estate, 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;
(j) in a testate estate, 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; and
(k) a statement that the personal representative seeking
appointment is qualified to serve under the laws of Florida as a
business entity under section 733.305, Florida Statutes, or, if an
individual, that the person is qualified to serve under the laws of
Florida, including:
(1) whether the person has been convicted of a felony;
(2) whether the person has been convicted in any state
or foreign jurisdiction of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly
person or a disabled adult, as those terms are defined in section
825.101, Florida Statutes;
(3) that the person is mentally and physically able to
perform the duties of a personal representative;
(4) that the person is 18 years of age or older; and
(5) whether the person is a resident of Florida and, if
not a resident, a statement of the person’s relationship to the
decedent in accordance with section 733.304, Florida Statutes.
Committee Notes
Rule History
1977 Revision: Addition to (b)(5) to require an affirmative
statement that the person sought to be appointed as personal
representative is qualified to serve. Committee note expanded to
include additional statutory references.
Substantially the same as section 733.202, Florida Statutes,
and implementing sections 733.301 through 733.305, Florida
Statutes.
1988 Revision: Editorial changes. Committee notes revised.
1992 Revision: Addition of phrase in subdivision (b) to conform
to 1992 amendment to section 733.202(2)(b), Florida Statutes.
Reference to clerk ascertaining the amount of the filing fee deleted
in subdivision (g) because of repeal of sliding scale of filing fees. The
remaining language was deemed unnecessary. Editorial changes.
Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in committee notes.
2002 Revision: Addition of phrases in subdivision (j) to add
references to wills probated in Florida where the original is in the
possession of a foreign official. Editorial changes. Committee notes
revised.
2003 Revision: Committee notes revised.
2007 Revision: Committee notes revised.
2007 Revision: Editorial changes in (h) and (i).
2010 Revision: Editorial change in (e) to clarify reference to
Florida Probate Code.
2011 Revision: Subdivision (b) amended to limit listing of
decedent’s social security number to last four digits.
2012 Revision: Committee notes revised.
2014 Revision: Subdivision (c) amended to conform to Florida
Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.425.
Committee notes revised.
2019 Revision: Subdivision (e) amended to require a statement
identifying any other person who has equal or higher preference
than the petitioner for the appointment of a personal representative
under section 733.301, Florida Statutes. Subdivision (k) adopted to
require a statement of the specific facts that show the petitioner’s
qualifications to serve as personal representative under sections
733.303 and 733.304, Florida Statutes.
2020 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form
changes in committee notes.
2021 Revision: Subdivision (k) amended to require a statement
as to whether the personal representative seeking appointment has
been convicted of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly or
disabled adult.
Statutory References
§ 731.201(23), Fla. Stat. General definitions.
§ 731.301, Fla. Stat. Notice.
§ 732.522, Fla. Stat. Method and place of execution.
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate.
§ 733.202, Fla. Stat. Petition.
§ 733.301, Fla. Stat. Preference in appointment of personal
representative.
§ 733.302, Fla. Stat. Who may be appointed personal
representative.
§ 733.303, Fla. Stat. Persons not qualified.
§ 733.304, Fla. Stat. Nonresidents.
§ 733.305, Fla. Stat. Trust companies and other corporations
and associations.
§ 825.101, Fla. Stat. Definitions.
Rule References
Fla. Prob. R. 5.020 Pleadings; verification; motions.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.040 Notice.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.041 Service of pleadings and documents.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.180 Waiver and consent.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.201 Notice of petition for administration.
Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516 Service of pleadings
and documents.
Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the
Filing of Sensitive Information.
The petition for administration shall be verified by the
petitioner and shall contain:
(a) 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;
(b) 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;
(c) so far as is known, the names and addresses of the
surviving spouse, if any, the beneficiaries and their relationship to
the decedent and the year of birth of any beneficiaries who are
minors;
(d) a statement showing venue;
(e) the priority, under section 733.301, Florida Statutes, of
the person whose appointment as the personal representative is
sought, whether or not any other person has equal or higher
preference, and if so, their name and whether they will be served
with formal notice, and a statement that the person is qualified to
serve under the laws of Florida;
(f) 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;
(g) a statement of the approximate value and nature of the
assets;
(h) in an intestate estate, a statement that after the exercise
of reasonable diligence the petitioner is unaware of any unrevoked
wills or codicils, or if the petitioner is aware of any unrevoked wills
or codicils, a statement why the wills or codicils are not being
probated;
(i) in a testate estate, 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;
(j) in a testate estate, 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; and
(k) a statement that the personal representative seeking
appointment is qualified to serve under the laws of Florida as a
business entity under section 733.305, Florida Statutes, or, if an
individual, that the person is qualified to serve under the laws of
Florida, including:
(1) whether the person has been convicted of a felony;
(2) whether the person has been convicted in any state
or foreign jurisdiction of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly
person or a disabled adult, as those terms are defined in section
825.101, Florida Statutes;
(3) that the person is mentally and physically able to
perform the duties of a personal representative;
(4) that the person is 18 years of age or older; and
(5) whether the person is a resident of Florida and, if
not a resident, a statement of the person’s relationship to the
decedent in accordance with section 733.304, Florida Statutes.
Committee Notes
Rule History
1977 Revision: Addition to (b)(5) to require an affirmative
statement that the person sought to be appointed as personal
representative is qualified to serve. Committee note expanded to
include additional statutory references.
Substantially the same as section 733.202, Florida Statutes,
and implementing sections 733.301 through 733.305, Florida
Statutes.
1988 Revision: Editorial changes. Committee notes revised.
1992 Revision: Addition of phrase in subdivision (b) to conform
to 1992 amendment to section 733.202(2)(b), Florida Statutes.
Reference to clerk ascertaining the amount of the filing fee deleted
in subdivision (g) because of repeal of sliding scale of filing fees. The
remaining language was deemed unnecessary. Editorial changes.
Committee notes revised. Citation form changes in committee notes.
2002 Revision: Addition of phrases in subdivision (j) to add
references to wills probated in Florida where the original is in the
possession of a foreign official. Editorial changes. Committee notes
revised.
2003 Revision: Committee notes revised.
2007 Revision: Committee notes revised.
2007 Revision: Editorial changes in (h) and (i).
2010 Revision: Editorial change in (e) to clarify reference to
Florida Probate Code.
2011 Revision: Subdivision (b) amended to limit listing of
decedent’s social security number to last four digits.
2012 Revision: Committee notes revised.
2014 Revision: Subdivision (c) amended to conform to Florida
Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.425.
Committee notes revised.
2019 Revision: Subdivision (e) amended to require a statement
identifying any other person who has equal or higher preference
than the petitioner for the appointment of a personal representative
under section 733.301, Florida Statutes. Subdivision (k) adopted to
require a statement of the specific facts that show the petitioner’s
qualifications to serve as personal representative under sections
733.303 and 733.304, Florida Statutes.
2020 Revision: Committee notes revised. Citation form
changes in committee notes.
2021 Revision: Subdivision (k) amended to require a statement
as to whether the personal representative seeking appointment has
been convicted of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elderly or
disabled adult.
Statutory References
§ 731.201(23), Fla. Stat. General definitions.
§ 731.301, Fla. Stat. Notice.
§ 732.522, Fla. Stat. Method and place of execution.
§ 732.526, Fla. Stat. Probate.
§ 733.202, Fla. Stat. Petition.
§ 733.301, Fla. Stat. Preference in appointment of personal
representative.
§ 733.302, Fla. Stat. Who may be appointed personal
representative.
§ 733.303, Fla. Stat. Persons not qualified.
§ 733.304, Fla. Stat. Nonresidents.
§ 733.305, Fla. Stat. Trust companies and other corporations
and associations.
§ 825.101, Fla. Stat. Definitions.
Rule References
Fla. Prob. R. 5.020 Pleadings; verification; motions.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.040 Notice.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.041 Service of pleadings and documents.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.180 Waiver and consent.
Fla. Prob. R. 5.201 Notice of petition for administration.
Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.516 Service of pleadings
and documents.
Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.425 Minimization of the
Filing of Sensitive Information.