Florida Statute 733.607 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2024 Florida Statutes (including 2025 Special Session C)

Title XLII
ESTATES AND TRUSTS

Chapter 733
PROBATE CODE: ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES

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F.S. 733.607

733.607 Possession of estate.—

(1) Except as otherwise provided by a decedent’s will, every personal representative has a right to, and shall take possession or control of, the decedent’s property, except the protected homestead, but any real property or tangible personal property may be left with, or surrendered to, the person presumptively entitled to it unless possession of the property by the personal representative will be necessary for purposes of administration. The request by a personal representative for delivery of any property possessed by a beneficiary is conclusive evidence that the possession of the property by the personal representative is necessary for the purposes of administration, in any action against the beneficiary for possession of it. The personal representative shall take all steps reasonably necessary for the management, protection, and preservation of the estate until distribution and may maintain an action to recover possession of property or to determine the title to it. Notwithstanding anything in this section, the personal representative has no right to, and shall not knowingly take possession or control of, a surviving spouse’s one-half share of property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216-732.228, applies.

(2) If, after providing for statutory entitlements and all devises other than residuary devises, the assets of the decedent’s estate are insufficient to pay the expenses of the administration and obligations of the decedent’s estate, the personal representative is entitled to payment from the trustee of a trust described in s. 733.707(3), in the amount the personal representative certifies in writing to be required to satisfy the insufficiency, subject to the exclusions and preferences under s. 736.05053. The provisions of s. 733.805 shall apply in determining the amount of any payment required by this section.

History.—s. 1, ch. 74-106; s. 28, ch. 77-87; s. 9, ch. 93-257; s. 9, ch. 95-401; s. 1005, ch. 97-102; s. 130, ch. 2001-226; s. 1, ch. 2010-122; s. 13, ch. 2024-238.

Note.—Created from former s. 733.01.

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Amendments to 733.607

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 733.607

Total Results: 37

Kennedy v. Carnival Corp.

385 F. Supp. 3d 1302

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 6, 2019 | Docket: 64324884

Cited 12 times | Published

842, 843 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996) ; Fla. Stat. Ann. § 733.607(1) ). Here, Plaintiff concedes that she is not

Van Dusen v. Southeast First Nat. Bank

478 So. 2d 82, 228 U.S.P.Q. (BNA) 19

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 29, 1985 | Docket: 1484675

Cited 12 times | Published

duty of the personal representative under section 733.607, Florida Statutes (1983), to take all steps

Shuck v. Bank of America, NA

862 So. 2d 20, 2003 WL 22149149

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 19, 2003 | Docket: 1762389

Cited 10 times | Published

must be read in conjunction with section 733.607(2). Section 733.607(2) entitled the personal representative

In Re Estate of Hamel

821 So. 2d 1276, 2002 WL 1801769

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 7, 2002 | Docket: 1236163

Cited 8 times | Published

homestead is not asset of probate estate). See also § 733.607(1), Fla. Stat. (2000) (requiring a personal representative

McKean v. Warburton

919 So. 2d 341, 2005 WL 2155180

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 5, 2006 | Docket: 1678549

Cited 6 times | Published

appeal support the result we reach today. Section 733.607, Florida Statutes (2004), provides that the

In Re Estate of Barsanti

773 So. 2d 1206, 2000 WL 1781380

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 6, 2000 | Docket: 1291741

Cited 6 times | Published

established a clear legal right pursuant to section 733.607(1), Florida Statutes (1997), to recover possession

Cutler v. Cutler

994 So. 2d 341, 2008 WL 4057751

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 3, 2008 | Docket: 1217430

Cited 5 times | Published

s. 4(b), Art. X of the State Constitution"); § 733.607(1), Fla. Stat. (2003) (stating that "every personal

Bankatlantic v. Estate of Glatzer

61 So. 3d 1222, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 7200, 2011 WL 1877839

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 18, 2011 | Docket: 60300401

Cited 4 times | Published

transferee bank’s possession) to BankAtlantic. . § 733.607(1), Fla. Stat. (2010); Perez v. Lopez, 454 So

Carvel v. Godley

939 So. 2d 204, 2006 WL 2872664

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 11, 2006 | Docket: 1657439

Cited 4 times | Published

extent that the estate has no money to pay. Section 733.607(2), Florida Statutes, referenced in the statute

All Children's Hosp., Inc. v. Owens

754 So. 2d 802, 2000 WL 320681

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 29, 2000 | Docket: 431022

Cited 4 times | Published

estate assets and determine title to them. See § 733.607(1), Fla. Stat. (1993). We see little value in

Brake v. Murphy

687 So. 2d 842, 1996 WL 734822

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 26, 1996 | Docket: 306285

Cited 4 times | Published

party to bring an action on the Estate's behalf. § 733.607, Fla.Stat. (1995). Additionally, we find that

State v. Lahurd

632 So. 2d 1101, 1994 WL 60835

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 2, 1994 | Docket: 1514026

Cited 4 times | Published

preservation of the estate until distribution." § 733.607, Fla. Stat. (1991). Section 733.608, *1104 Florida

Wolf Sanitary Wiping Cloth, Inc. v. Wolf

526 So. 2d 702, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 1152, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 1916, 1988 WL 44489

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 10, 1988 | Docket: 1679828

Cited 4 times | Published

title to or recover possession of property, section 733.607, Florida Statutes (1985). Section 86.041 specifically

Tobin v. Damian

723 So. 2d 396, 1999 WL 9799

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 13, 1999 | Docket: 1319577

Cited 3 times | Published

estate is insufficient to pay them as provided in § 733.607(2). § 733.707(3), Fla. Stat. (emphasis added)

Ray v. Rotella

425 So. 2d 94, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 22000

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 22, 1982 | Docket: 64594634

Cited 2 times | Published

the decedent’s property, except the homestead. § 733.607, Fla.Stat. (1981). The powers of the representative

Hilgendorf v. Estate of Coleman

201 So. 3d 1262, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 15934

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 26, 2016 | Docket: 60256959

Cited 1 times | Published

representative had notified the trust, pursuant to section 733.607(2), Florida Statutes, of the insufficiency

Griem v. Becker

4 So. 3d 721, 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 1504, 2009 WL 454517

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 25, 2009 | Docket: 1666178

Cited 1 times | Published

Cypen, 773 So.2d 1206 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000); see § 733.607, Fla. Stat. (2005). Another Florida appellate

In Re Amendments to the Fl. Probate Rules

964 So. 2d 140, 32 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 505, 2007 Fla. LEXIS 1234, 2007 WL 2002458

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jul 12, 2007 | Docket: 1689866

Cited 1 times | Published

§ 732.4015, Fla. Stat. Devise of homestead. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. Possession of estate. § 733.608, Fla

In Re: Amendments to Florida Probate Rules

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jul 3, 2024 | Docket: 68913248

Published

Stat. Waiver of homestead rights by deed. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. Possession of estate. § 733

J. SCOTT LANFORD, TRUSTEE OF THE KIRK FAMILY FOUNDATION vs ROBIN PHEMISTER, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF MARY L. DILLARD AND AS TRUSTEE OF THE TESTAMENTARY TRUST OF MARY L. DILLARD

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 8, 2022 | Docket: 60149151

Published

it passes outside of the probate estate. See § 733.607(1), Fla. Stat. (2016) (“Except as otherwise provided

In Re: Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules - 2021 Fast-Track Report

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 4, 2021 | Docket: 60698371

Published

732.4015, Fla. Stat. Devise of homestead. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. Possession of estate. § 733

Bivins v. Guardianship of Bivins

223 So. 3d 1006, 2017 WL 1908386, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 6559

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 10, 2017 | Docket: 60269873

Published

control of the ward’s property pursuant to section 733.607(1), Florida Statutes (2016). Accordingly, Juh

Joe R. Parker, Jr., Eddie Shelton Parker, David Parker and Cornel Parker v. Sean Cornelius Parker, Joan Parker, Kevin Parker and Parkerquest, LLC

185 So. 3d 616, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 1441, 2016 WL 404636

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 3, 2016 | Docket: 3033856

Published

indispensable party to the action pursuant to section 733.607, Florida. Statutes. Because the decedent transferred

Georges M. Delbrouck v. Maria Eberling, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Leon G. Delbrouck, Aime Guy Delbrouck and Claude Delbrouck

177 So. 3d 66, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 15247, 2015 WL 5948724

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 14, 2015 | Docket: 2919780

Published

authorize occupancy by the beneficiaries. He cited section 733.607(1), Florida Statutes (2014), which provides

AMP Services Ltd. v. Walanpatrias Foundation

73 So. 3d 346, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 17374, 2011 WL 5169987

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 2, 2011 | Docket: 60303378

Published

motion to dismiss that the 1999 versions of section 733.607 and 733.7072, which were in effect at the time

In Re Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules

50 So. 3d 578, 35 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 482, 2010 Fla. LEXIS 1455, 2010 WL 3431722

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 2, 2010 | Docket: 2396382

Published

§ 732.4015, Fla. Stat. Devise of homestead. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. Possession of estate. § 733.608, Fla

Cabana v. Kurzon (In Re Kurzon)

399 B.R. 274, 2008 WL 5411578

United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 12, 2008 | Docket: 1490617

Published

and preservation of the estate...." Fla. Stat. § 733.607(1). A personal representative is liable for his

Gneiser v. Adult Comprehensive Protection Services, Inc.

873 So. 2d 573, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 7370, 2004 WL 1159780

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 26, 2004 | Docket: 64830706

Published

733.607(2). Section 733.707(3) references section 733.607(2). That section provides: If, after providing

Markowitz v. Merson

869 So. 2d 728, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 4581, 2004 WL 736385

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 7, 2004 | Docket: 64829198

Published

the estate for distribution. See id. at 1209; § 733.607(1), Fla. Stat. (2002). Similarly, in this case

Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules

848 So. 2d 1069, 28 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 495, 2003 Fla. LEXIS 1063, 2003 WL 21402500

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jun 19, 2003 | Docket: 64823856

Published

§ 732.4015, Fla. Stat. Devise of homestead. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. Possession of estate. § 733.608, Fla

Amendments to the Florida Probate Rules

824 So. 2d 849, 27 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 423, 2002 Fla. LEXIS 873, 2002 WL 825699

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 2, 2002 | Docket: 64817121

Published

§ 732.4015, Fla. Stat. Devise of homestead. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. Possession of estate. § 733.608, Fla

Brodfuehrer v. Estate of Brodfuehrer

833 So. 2d 784, 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 2983, 2002 WL 385032

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 13, 2002 | Docket: 64819749

Published

turned over through a personal representative. § 733.607, Fla. Stat.(1999); In re Estate of Barsanti, 773

Green v. Rosin (In re Rosin)

248 B.R. 625, 1998 Bankr. LEXIS 1924

United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Jun 4, 1998 | Docket: 65782043

Published

514. . Fla.Stat. § 732.101(2). . Fla.Stat. § 733.607. . Fla.Stat. § 733.608. . Fla.Stat. § 733

Grant v. Norris

558 So. 2d 208, 1990 Fla. App. LEXIS 1884, 1990 WL 31733

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 23, 1990 | Docket: 64648813

Published

the property or to determine the title to it. § 733.607, Fla. Stat. (1987). Property in the decedent’s

Florida Bar

537 So. 2d 500, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 601, 1988 Fla. LEXIS 1463, 1988 WL 143178

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 29, 1988 | Docket: 64640022

Published

References F.S. 732.4015 Devise of homestead. F.S. 733.607 Possession of estate. F.S. 733.608 General power

Florida Bar

531 So. 2d 1261, 13 Fla. L. Weekly 601, 1988 Fla. LEXIS 1475, 1988 WL 53983

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 29, 1988 | Docket: 64637451

Published

References F.S. 732.4015 Devise of homestead. F.S. 733.607 Possession of estate. F.S. 733.608 General power

Florida Bar re Amendment to Rules

458 So. 2d 1079, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 401, 1984 Fla. LEXIS 3390

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 13, 1984 | Docket: 64608151

Published

1984 Revision: New rule. Statutory References F.S. 733.607 Possession of estate. F.S. 733.608 General power