Who is Qualified to be the Personal Representative of a Palm Beach or Orlando Estate?

What does the executor of an estate do? Is an “executor” the same thing as a “personal representative”? Who can serve as the executor of a Palm Beach estate? If your mom dies, how can you be appointed the executor of her estate by the West Palm Beach probate court? What should you probate litigator know about the qualification requirements of being an executor in Florida? If you are asking any of these questions, you should read Florida Statutes 733.302 and 733.303. These sections of the Florida Probate Code explain who cannot serve as an executor or personal representative of a Florida estate. Probate litigators know that, in Florida, the executor is referred to as the personal representative. There are special rules regarding certain people like felons and people who are under the age of eighteen. There’s also a big catch all that probate litigation firms are very interested in: If someone is physically or mentally unable to handle the job of running an estate, they cannot serve as personal representative. For more information about who can be the executor or PR of Florida probate, or who can run a Florida estate, talk to a Florida estate planning or probate lawyer.

733.302 Who may be appointed personal representative.—
Subject to the limitations in this part, any person who is sui juris and is a resident of Florida at the time of the death of the person whose estate is to be administered is qualified to act as personal representative in Florida.
733.303 Persons not qualified.—
(1) A person is not qualified to act as a personal representative if the person:
(a) Has been convicted of a felony.
(b) Is mentally or physically unable to perform the duties.
(c) Is under the age of 18 years.
(2) If the person named as personal representative in the will is not qualified, letters shall be granted as provided in s. 733.301.