Disposition Without Administration
A simplified process for very small estates to reimburse final expenses.
Disposition Without Administration is the simplest probate procedure in Florida, designed solely to reimburse the person who paid for the decedent's final expenses.
This process is only available when the decedent left no real estate, and their only assets are exempt from creditors or do not exceed the cost of their funeral and final medical bills.
It allows a family member or friend to access a small bank account to recoup the out-of-pocket costs of burying their loved one, without going through a formal probate process.
Key Benefits
No Attorney Required
This is the only probate process in Florida designed to be easily completed without an attorney.
Quick Reimbursement
Allows fast access to small funds to cover funeral and medical expenses.
Minimal Court Involvement
Requires only a simple application and proof of paid expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use this to transfer a car or house?
No. This process cannot be used if the decedent owned real estate, and is generally limited to small bank accounts.
What expenses qualify?
Funeral expenses and reasonable medical bills incurred within the last 60 days of the decedent's final illness.
Does it matter how long ago my father died before I can ask to be paid back?
This particular procedure contains no waiting period and no deadline. That is different from the separate small-estate procedure used when someone died without a will, which applies only after more than one year has passed. Which procedure fits your situation depends on whether there was a will.
Do I have to go to a hearing in front of a judge?
Usually not. The request can be made by informal application, which may be an affidavit, a letter, or another writing, by any interested party. If the court is satisfied the requirements are met, it may authorize the transfer by letter or other writing under the seal of the court. The court may authorize it, so it is not automatic.
My mother’s only asset was a small bank account in her name. Can we get it without probate?
Possibly, if the balance is small enough and you can wait. A bank or credit union is allowed to release the money in a decedent’s accounts directly to a close family member with no court proceeding at all, where those accounts were in the decedent’s sole name with no pay-on-death or other survivor designation and the combined balance at that institution is $2,000 or less. That ceiling doubled from $1,000 on July 1, 2026. Three things to know: the institution cannot pay it out until six months after the death, it will want a certified death certificate and a sworn affidavit, and the law says it may pay — it is permitted to, not required to. The people eligible to receive it run in order: a surviving spouse first, then an adult child, then an adult descendant, then a parent.
My husband died without a will more than a year ago and left about $15,000 in personal property. Do we still have to open a probate?
Maybe not. Florida has a separate route for an estate where there was no will. It applies when more than one year has passed since the death, no probate is already open in Florida, and the nonexempt personal property is worth $20,000 or less — a ceiling that doubled from $10,000 on July 1, 2026. Property that Florida law treats as exempt is set aside separately and is not counted against that figure, so an estate can be worth more than $20,000 in total and still qualify. Preferred funeral expenses and the reasonable medical and hospital bills from the last 60 days of the final illness are accounted for as well. Two limits matter: this covers personal property only and never real estate, and it is available only where the person died without a will.
Ready to Secure Your Legacy?
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your estate planning needs. We'll review your situation and map out the best flight path for your family.
Schedule Consultation