summary
Introduced
01/09/2026
01/09/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
02/17/2026
02/17/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to estates; amending ss. 655.933 and 655.936, F.S.; revising the responsibilities a lessor of a safe-deposit box has to certain persons; amending s. 733.603, F.S.; revising the issues a court may resolve for a personal representative; amending s. 733.612, F.S.; revising the list of transactions a personal representative may make if acting reasonably for the benefit of certain persons; creating s. 733.6125, F.S.; requiring the court to award taxable costs and attorney fees in certain proceedings; authorizing the court to direct such payment from certain persons; providing that such payment may be satisfied from certain property; amending s. 733.6171, F.S.; revising what constitutes an extraordinary service of an attorney; making technical changes; amending s. 735.201, F.S.; revising when summary administration proceedings may commence for either a resident or nonresident decedent's estate; amending s. 735.302, F.S.; revising the sum at which an overpayment of taxes by a decedent may be refunded by the United States Treasury Department; amending s. 735.303, F.S.; revising the sum for funds certain financial institutions may make payable to a decedent's family member; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 735.304, F.S.; revising the prohibition against certain proceedings for a decedent when he or she dies intestate and leaves only certain personal property worth a specified sum; reenacting s. 655.937(1)(b), F.S., relating to access to safe-deposit boxes leased in two or more names, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 655.933, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 734.101(4), F.S., relating to foreign personal representatives, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 655.936, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 733.106(4), F.S., relating to costs and attorney fees, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 733.6171, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill modifies various aspects of estate law, including clarifying the responsibilities of safe-deposit box lessors to fiduciaries like personal representatives, who are individuals appointed by a court to manage a deceased person's estate. It also expands the types of issues a court can resolve for a personal representative and allows them to initiate proceedings to enforce their authority, with the court mandated to award taxable costs and attorney fees in such cases, potentially paid from the estate or specific individuals. The bill also updates the definition of extraordinary services for an attorney representing an estate to include involvement in proceedings to enforce a personal representative's authority, increases the value threshold for summary administration of estates to $150,000, and raises the amounts for tax refunds and funds financial institutions can disburse to family members without court proceedings to $5,000 and $2,000 respectively. Finally, it increases the value of nonexempt personal property for which administration is not required in small intestate estates to $20,000.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (3)
Other Sponsors (1)
Judiciary Committee (House)
Last Action
Received (on 02/18/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337 |
| Analysis - Judiciary Committee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/Analyses/h1337c.JDC.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/BillText/c1/PDF |
| https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/Amendment/231079/PDF | |
| Analysis - Judiciary Committee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/Analyses/h1337b.JDC.PDF |
| Analysis - Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/Analyses/h1337a.CIV.PDF |
| Analysis - Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/Analyses/h1337.CIV.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1337/BillText/Filed/PDF |
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