Florida Probate Calculator: Introducing the Florida Probate Planning Suite from St. Johns Law Group
Published by St. Johns Law Group
A Smarter Way to Prepare for Florida Probate
Losing a loved one is difficult enough without trying to navigate Florida’s probate system on your own. Families are often left wondering whether probate is required, how long the process may take, what documents they need, and whether they can sell inherited property before the estate is complete.
To help answer those questions, St. Johns Law Group has developed the Florida Probate Planning Suite—a free, interactive educational tool designed to help families better understand the probate process before meeting with an attorney.
Unlike a basic probate calculator that only estimates estate value, our Planning Suite provides a personalized overview of many of the issues commonly encountered during Florida probate administration.
What Is the Florida Probate Planning Suite?
The Florida Probate Planning Suite is an interactive online application that guides users through six easy steps to organize estate information and generate a customized probate planning report.
The tool evaluates information entered by the user and creates a printable summary that can be brought to a consultation with one of our probate attorneys.
The Planning Suite includes:
- Estate information organizer
- Probate asset analyzer
- Probate process evaluation
- Florida probate timeline planner
- Probate real estate analyzer
- Personal Representative checklist
- Customized planning summary
- Printable consultation report
The application is designed for educational purposes and helps families understand what information may be important during estate administration.
Step 1: Organize Estate Information
The first step gathers important background information about the decedent and the estate, including:
- Date of death
- Florida residency
- County of residence
- Whether an original will has been located
- Whether a trust exists
- Whether a probate case has already been opened
This information helps identify common issues that may affect the administration of the estate.
Step 2: Analyze Estate Assets
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“Does this asset have to go through probate?”
The Probate Asset Analyzer helps users organize:
- Real estate
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Retirement accounts
- Business interests
- Vehicles
- Personal property
- Life insurance
- Other assets
The Planning Suite then identifies assets that may:
- Require probate
- Pass outside probate
- Require additional legal review
Step 3: Evaluate the Probate Process
Every estate is different.
The Planning Suite evaluates information entered by the user to identify whether the estate may require additional review for:
- Summary Administration
- Formal Administration
- Ancillary Administration
- Probate litigation
- Creditor claims
- Family disputes
- Business ownership
- Complex real estate issues
The tool provides educational guidance rather than legal conclusions, helping families prepare for a productive meeting with an attorney.
Step 4: View a Personalized Probate Timeline
One of the most helpful features of the Planning Suite is its dynamic probate timeline.
Based on the information entered, the application generates an estimated roadmap that includes:
- Deposit of the original will
- Petition to open probate
- Appointment of the Personal Representative
- Issuance of Letters of Administration
- Notice to Creditors
- Creditor claim period
- Estate inventory
- Estate administration
- Accounting
- Distribution of assets
- Closing the estate
The timeline also highlights important statutory requirements and planning milestones so users understand what generally happens next.
Step 5: Analyze Probate Real Estate
Real estate is often the most valuable asset in an estate.
Our Probate Real Estate Analyzer helps users evaluate:
- Estimated property value
- Mortgage balance
- Equity
- Homestead issues
- Potential title concerns
- Sale considerations
- Probate-related real estate issues
This feature is particularly helpful for families who need to sell inherited property during probate.
Step 6: Generate a Personalized Probate Planning Report
After completing the Planning Suite, users receive a customized planning report that includes:
- Executive summary
- Estimated probate path
- Asset summary
- Real estate analysis
- Probate timeline
- Estate issue alerts
- Personal Representative checklist
- Suggested documents to gather
- Recommended next steps
The report can be printed and used during an initial consultation with a probate attorney.
Why We Built This Tool
Too many families begin probate without understanding the process.
The Planning Suite was created to:
- Help families become organized
- Reduce uncertainty
- Identify common probate issues
- Encourage early planning
- Improve attorney consultations
- Save time gathering information
- Educate Personal Representatives about their responsibilities
Rather than replacing legal advice, the tool helps families ask better questions and arrive at their consultation better prepared.
Who Can Benefit from the Probate Planning Suite?
This free resource is useful for:
- Personal Representatives
- Executors
- Surviving spouses
- Adult children
- Beneficiaries
- Heirs
- Trustees
- Financial advisors
- Accountants
- Real estate professionals
- Families planning to begin probate
Whether an estate is simple or complex, organizing information before meeting with an attorney can make the probate process more efficient.
Why Choose St. Johns Law Group?
St. Johns Law Group represents clients throughout Northeast Florida in matters involving:
- Probate Administration
- Summary Administration
- Formal Administration
- Ancillary Probate
- Probate Litigation
- Will Contests
- Trust Litigation
- Estate Administration
- Probate Real Estate
- Estate Planning
- Trust Administration
- Asset Protection
Our attorneys understand that every estate presents unique legal and practical challenges. We work with Personal Representatives, beneficiaries, and families to guide them through every stage of the probate process with practical advice and experienced legal representation.
Start the Florida Probate Planning Suite Today
If you have recently lost a loved one or expect to serve as a Personal Representative, the Florida Probate Planning Suite is an excellent place to begin organizing estate information and understanding the probate process.
After completing the Planning Suite, schedule a consultation with one of our probate attorneys to discuss your specific circumstances and receive legal advice tailored to your estate.
St. Johns Law Group
104 Sea Grove Main Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32080
Phone: 904.495.0400