Probate Litigation | Coral Gables, Florida
Understanding the Estate Inventory in Florida Probate
How a personal representative documents estate assets, and how heirs and beneficiaries can ask questions about that list. Leslie V. Marenco and the attorneys at Trust Counsel, PL focus on probate and trust matters from the firm's Coral Gables office.
By Leslie V. Marenco · Published November 4, 2026
Yes, a beneficiary in a Florida estate can ask the personal representative in writing for information about the estate’s property. The personal representative must file a verified inventory, and a beneficiary can request a written explanation of how each value was set, for all inventoried assets if a residuary beneficiary or heir in an intestate estate, or otherwise for assets distributed or proposed to be distributed to that beneficiary. This guide explains the rules for a personal representative inventory beneficiary request in Florida.
What the Florida inventory is and why a beneficiary asks for it
The inventory is a list of the estate’s property, with an estimated value for each item as of the date of death. Think of it as the estate’s starting balance sheet. Fla. Stat. § 733.604 requires the personal representative to prepare it unless one was already filed.
Common items include bank and investment accounts, real estate, vehicles, personal belongings, and money the estate is owed. Each item needs enough detail that a reader can tell what it is.
Why does a beneficiary need it? The inventory is the first record you can use to check the estate. It shows what the estate owns. Without it, you have to take the personal representative’s word for everything.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with Trust Counsel, PL — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
What Florida Statute 733.604 requires of the personal representative
The personal representative must file a verified inventory, and must explain asset values to a beneficiary who asks in writing. Under § 733.604(1)(a), each item needs reasonable detail and an estimated fair market value at the date of death.
The deadline comes from the court rule. Under Florida Probate Rule 5.340(a), the inventory is due within 60 days after letters are issued, unless one was already filed. The court can extend that time on petition for cause shown.
For any other beneficiary, it covers only the assets distributed or proposed to be distributed to that beneficiary. § 733.604(3) sets this out, and the personal representative must tell each beneficiary about these rights.
Filed inventories are not public records. An interested person can still get one from the clerk, under § 733.604(1)(b). Also, a request, or choosing not to make one, does not cut off your rights in later proceedings.
Can a personal representative be a beneficiary?
Yes. A personal representative can also be a beneficiary. Holding both roles does not end the duty to account to the other beneficiaries.
A personal representative is a fiduciary who must meet the standards that apply to trustees. That is stated in § 733.602(1). Under § 733.609(1), the personal representative is liable to interested persons for loss caused by a breach of that duty.
Conflicts of interest get extra scrutiny. Under § 733.610, a sale to the personal representative can be voidable by an interested person, except one who has consented after fair disclosure. The exceptions are a will or a contract entered into by the decedent that expressly authorized the deal, or court approval after notice to interested persons.
The inventory matters most here. Other beneficiaries can compare the listed assets with what goes to the personal representative.
Who qualifies as a personal representative in Florida?
Any person who is sui juris (legally able to manage their own affairs) and was a Florida resident when the decedent died can qualify, under § 733.302.
When there is a will, the court follows the order in § 733.301(1)(a). The first choice is the person the will names. Without a will, the order in § 733.301(1)(b) starts with the surviving spouse.
§ 733.305(1) lists the corporations that may act as personal representatives, such as trust companies and banks with fiduciary powers in Florida. A law firm is not on that list.
Trust Counsel’s attorneys can serve individually as trustee or personal representative. The firm advises and represents trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries. The firm itself does not serve as a fiduciary.
How to make the inventory list for probate
The personal representative builds the inventory. It lists each estate asset with a value as of the date of death, then gets verified.
Start with what the estate holds. Typical entries include bank accounts, investment accounts, real estate, vehicles, personal property, and money the estate is owed. Florida Probate Rule 5.340(a) requires reasonable detail and a fair market value for each item.
Protected homestead is handled differently. It must be listed and designated as homestead, but it does not need a fair market value in the inventory. Homestead passes under its own rules, described in § 732.401.
Some household items may be exempt property. Exempt property includes household furniture, furnishings, and appliances in the decedent’s usual place of abode up to a net value of $20,000 as of the date of death, under § 732.402(2)(a). Those claims carry their own filing window in § 732.402(6).
How a beneficiary makes a written request and what follows if it is not provided
A beneficiary makes the request in writing and keeps proof that it was sent. Include the estate’s name, the case number, your name and your relationship to the decedent.
Name the information you want.
If the information does not come, you have options. Beneficiaries with questions about a personal representative’s duties can contact Trust Counsel’s attorneys to discuss their situation. The court can also order disclosure of a confidential inventory for good cause, under § 733.604(1)(b). If a breach causes loss, § 733.609(1) provides the liability rule.
Trust Counsel’s trust litigation attorney page covers court options in more depth. What a court does depends on the facts of the estate.
Not sure what your next step is?
Talk it through with Trust Counsel, PL — the first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation.
When a parent’s money may be involved
If you suspect a parent’s money or property moved before death, the inventory is a good place to start comparing records. Check the listed assets against any statements you already have.
If an asset is missing from the inventory, or its value looks wrong, the personal representative must file an amended or supplementary inventory once it learns of the problem. That duty is in § 733.604(2). Rule 5.340(c) applies the same duty to property listed as unknown.
Some transactions by the personal representative may also be reviewed under § 733.610. Fla. Stat. § 733.610 provides that a sale or encumbrance to the personal representative, or to the personal representative’s spouse, agent, or attorney, or to an entity or trust in which any of them has a substantial beneficial or ownership interest, and any transaction affected by a conflict of interest on the part of the personal representative, is voidable by any interested person who has not consented after fair disclosure. The exceptions are a transaction that the decedent’s will or a contract the decedent entered into expressly authorized, and a transaction the court approves after notice to interested persons. Each situation turns on its own records. A separate page covers recovering money taken from a parent before death in Florida.
Talk with Trust Counsel about your estate’s inventory
If a parent or relative has died and the inventory has not reached you, you may be deciding whether to make a formal written request. A probate notice can arrive when you are already dealing with a loss.
Trust Counsel, PL’s responsible lawyer for this page is Leslie V. Marenco. Our only office is in Coral Gables, Florida. We serve clients in Fort Lauderdale.
Your first consultation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation to continue. Call (305) 707-7126 or schedule a consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an inventory in a Florida probate estate?
An inventory is a list of the assets a deceased person owned that are subject to probate, along with their values as of the date of death. The personal representative prepares it to show what the estate holds before any distributions are made.
How long does a personal representative have to prepare an inventory in Florida?
Under Florida Statute 733.604, unless an inventory has already been filed, a personal representative must file a verified inventory of the estate’s property, listing each item with reasonable detail and its estimated fair market value at the date of the decedent’s death. The inventory must be made available to interested persons who request a copy.
Can a beneficiary request a copy of the inventory?
Under Florida Probate Rule 5.340(d), the personal representative must serve a copy of the inventory on the surviving spouse, heirs, residuary beneficiaries, and any other interested person who requests it in writing. Under Rule 5.340(f), each nonresiduary beneficiary receives written notice of the right to a written explanation of how the inventory value for each asset distributed or proposed to be distributed to that beneficiary was determined, or a copy of an appraisal, if any, of that asset. A nonresiduary beneficiary may also request a copy of the inventory in writing under Rule 5.340(d). Trust Counsel’s attorneys advise beneficiaries on how to make that request and what to do next.
What can a beneficiary do if the inventory appears incomplete or inaccurate?
A beneficiary can raise the concern with the personal representative in writing and ask for supporting records. Beneficiaries with questions about an estate inventory can contact Trust Counsel’s attorneys to discuss their situation.
Why the estate inventory matters
A written record of estate assets
The inventory lists the property the decedent owned that passes through probate, so everyone involved can see what the estate holds.
Clear communication with heirs and beneficiaries
A well-organized inventory helps heirs and beneficiaries understand the estate and ask focused questions about it.
Accountability for the personal representative
Documenting assets carefully supports the personal representative's record-keeping as the estate moves forward.
Early organization
Gathering deeds, account statements and business records early makes the inventory process easier to manage.
Do not wait to get answers
If you are an heir, beneficiary or personal representative and you have questions about what an estate contains or how the inventory was prepared, raise them early. Missing or unclear asset information can complicate an estate administration.
Common assets listed in a Florida inventory
Real property
Homes, condominiums, land and other real estate held in the decedent's name, including how each property was titled.
Bank and investment accounts
Checking, savings, brokerage and retirement-related accounts that are subject to probate, with statements showing balances.
Personal property
Vehicles, furnishings, jewelry, art and other tangible items that the decedent owned at the time of death.
Business interests
Ownership shares in closely held companies, partnerships or other business entities, which often need careful review.