Posted in Probate & Trust Administration,Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning

Effective July 1, 2026, Florida made it easier for many families to settle a loved one’s estate without a lengthy, expensive court process. A new law generally doubles the value limit for summary administration—Florida’s simplified probate track—from $75,000 to $150,000. Many people refer to summary administration as Florida’s “small estate probate” process. Here is a plain-language look at what changed and why it may matter for your planning.

What Is Summary Administration?

Florida generally offers two paths through probate. Formal administration is the full process, which often takes several months to a year or longer and requires the court to appoint a personal representative. Summary administration is the streamlined alternative: no personal representative is appointed, and the estate is typically settled through a single court order that directs assets to the beneficiaries. When an estate qualifies, summary administration is usually faster and less expensive than formal administration, if the assets and beneficiaries are known.

What Changed on July 1, 2026?

The Florida Legislature passed the reform unanimously, and it was signed as Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida. The headline change amends section 735.201, Florida Statutes, raising the value of an estate that may use summary administration from $75,000 to $150,000. The higher limit generally applies to individuals who pass away on or after July 1, 2026, regardless of when the probate proceeding is later filed. The same law also raised several smaller thresholds:

• Disposition without administration (small intestate personal property) increased from $10,000 to $20,000.
• The income tax refund a spouse or child may claim without opening an estate increased from $2,500 to $5,000.
• The amount a bank may release to a family member by affidavit increased from $1,000 to $2,000.

What Counts Toward the $150,000 Limit—and What Does Not

This is the part families most often misunderstand. The $150,000 threshold generally applies only to non-exempt probate assets, not the total value of everything a person owned. The following typically do not count toward the limit:

• Homestead (the primary residence);
• Retirement accounts (such as IRAs and 401(k)s) with named beneficiaries;
• Life insurance with named beneficiaries;
• Payable-on-death (POD) or transfer-on-death (TOD) accounts;
• Property held jointly with rights of survivorship; and
• Assets already titled in a trust.

Because of these exclusions, an estate may have a substantial overall value and still qualify for summary administration if its non-exempt probate assets fall below $150,000.

Why This Matters

The old $75,000 cap was set years ago and was never adjusted for inflation, so a single retirement rollover or a modest brokerage account could push an otherwise “small” estate into formal administration. The higher limit should allow many more Florida families to use the faster, less costly process. Even so, careful planning—such as coordinating beneficiary designations and, where appropriate, a revocable living trust—generally remains the best way to simplify matters for your loved ones. Even if an estate qualifies for summary administration, formal administration may still be the better option in some situations, particularly when additional assets may exist, creditor issues must be addressed, or a personal representative is needed to handle estate administration.