Florida Statute 733.506
“Proceedings for removal”
What it means
Removal can start two ways: the court on its own, or on the petition of an interested person — a beneficiary, a creditor, a co-representative. When a personal representative is removed, the court revokes the letters, which ends the PR's authority to act for the estate.
The statute then closes the exit: removal does not exonerate the removed personal representative — or the PR's surety — from any liability. Losing the job is not the end of the case. The final accounting and any claims for mismanagement continue against the former PR and the bond.
- The court may commence removal on its own motion; so may any interested person by petition.
- Removal means the court revokes the letters — the personal representative's authority ends.
- Removal does not exonerate the removed PR or the surety from liability for what already happened.
- Probate Rule 5.440 supplies the procedure, including delivery of estate records and property to the successor.
How it plays out
The clause we point clients to is the last one: removal does not wipe the slate. A PR who mismanaged the estate is still liable after removal — and so is the bond, which is often the only collectible source. We treat removal as step one. The accounting under §733.508 and the surcharge claim under §733.609 are where the money actually comes back.
