Florida probate timeline: every deadline, in order
Short answer
Florida’s statutory clocks put the inventory 60 days after letters, close the creditor period 3 months after the notice to creditors is first published, and require the final accounting and petition for discharge within 12 months of letters for an estate that does not file a federal estate tax return.
Every date below links to the statute or court rule it comes from. Not legal advice — courts can extend several of these.
The deadlines
Florida runs its clocks from the death, the issuance of letters of administration, and the first publication of the notice to creditors.
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Whoever holds the original will deposits it with the clerk of court
10 days from the date of death · Fla. Stat. §732.901
The 10 days run from learning of the death.
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File the inventory of the estate
60 days from the letters issued · Fla. Prob. R. 5.340
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Creditor claims period closes
3 months from the first publication of the notice to creditors · Fla. Stat. §733.702
For a creditor who was served with the notice, the later of this date or 30 days after service.
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Serve the notice to creditors and death certificate on the Agency for Health Care Administration
3 months from the first publication of the notice to creditors · only if the decedent was 55 or older · Fla. Stat. §733.2121(3)(d)
Only when the decedent was 55 or older.
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File the final accounting and petition for discharge
12 months from the letters issued · when no federal estate tax return is required · Fla. Prob. R. 5.400(c)
Unless the court extends it for cause.
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Two-year bar: claims against the estate are cut off
2 years from the date of death · Fla. Stat. §733.710
Clocks with no fixed date
- The notice to creditors is published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks, and must go out promptly after letters issue (Fla. Stat. §733.2121).
- Anyone served with the notice of administration has 3 months from service to object to the will, the venue or the court’s jurisdiction (Fla. Stat. §733.212).
- If the estate must file a federal estate tax return, the final accounting is due 12 months from the date the return is due instead (Fla. Prob. R. 5.400(c)).
Worked example
Someone died March 3, 2026, letters issued May 4, 2026, and the notice to creditors was first published May 18, 2026. The statutory dates fall like this:
- Whoever holds the original will deposits it with the clerk of courtMarch 13, 2026
- File the inventory of the estateJuly 3, 2026
- Creditor claims period closesAugust 18, 2026
- File the final accounting and petition for dischargeMay 4, 2027
- Two-year bar: claims against the estate are cut offMarch 3, 2028
For the executor doing the work
Don’t run probate from a list of dates
Estate Executor OS keeps these deadlines next to the asset inventory, every account to close, and the receipts the final accounting needs. One offline file, one-time $29.00.