Florida Statute 733.604
“Inventories and accountings; public records exemptions”
What it means
Early in a formal administration, the personal representative must file a verified inventory — a sworn list of estate property, in reasonable detail, with each item's estimated fair market value at the date of death. The statute sets no deadline; Probate Rule 5.340 does: 60 days after letters issue. Property found later, or values that turn out wrong, require a verified amended or supplementary inventory.
Unusually for a court filing, the inventory is confidential: exempt from Florida's public records law, and disclosable only to the personal representative, the PR's attorney, interested persons, or by court order on a showing of good cause. A beneficiary may also demand, in writing, an explanation of how any listed value was determined.
- The inventory is verified (sworn), lists property in reasonable detail, and states fair market value at the date of death for each item.
- Probate Rule 5.340 supplies the deadline: 60 days after issuance of letters.
- After-discovered property or corrected values require a verified amended or supplementary inventory.
- Inventories and accountings are confidential — exempt from s. 119.07(1) public records disclosure.
- Access is limited to the PR, the PR's attorney, interested persons (s. 731.201), or a court order on good cause.
- On written request, a beneficiary is entitled to an explanation of how an inventory value was determined, including any appraisals.
How it plays out
The inventory is the first honest picture of the estate, and the first place administrations go wrong. We calendar the 60-day deadline the day letters issue and file amendments without embarrassment — a corrected inventory beats a wrong one. The confidentiality rule matters to families more than they expect: the asset list does not sit on the public docket next to the will. And when a beneficiary doubts a valuation, the written-request right in subsection (3) is the first tool we reach for.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 733.604 does real work:
Questions people ask
