Florida Personal Representative Bond

Florida Personal Representative Bond

A personal representative (also known as a fiduciary) is appointed by a probate court to look after and close a decedent’s estate, which could include a will and/or trust. While fulfilling this appointment in the State of Florida, the county court may require the filing of a probate bond.

This bond goes by many names—Personal Representative Bond, Administrator Bond, Executor Bond, and Bond of Fiduciary—but for the sake of clarity, we use Personal Representative Bond.

APPLY FOR YOUR BOND

Jet Insurance Company provides the Personal Representative Bond as a guarantee to the Florida County Courts that restitution is available should a fiduciary fail to fulfill their duties and cause financial harm.

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What Is the Bond Limit of a Florida Personal Representative Bond?

Personal Representative Bonds have a custom amount determined by the probate court that is handling the deceased person’s case. Things like the gross value of the estate, the relationship of the fiduciary to the beneficiaries, estate assets, known creditors, and any possible liens on the assets will be considered when determining a bond limit that will cover the total liability of the case.

What Is the Cost of a Florida Personal Representative Bond?

To determine how much the bond will cost, administrators and executors can follow the steps listed below:

  1. Determine the Required Bond Amount

The Probate Court sets the bond amount based on the value of the personal property in the estate plus any annual income. The bond amount must include the value of any real estate if the Personal Representative plans to sell it.

  1. Calculate the Total Cost

Jet Surety charges $150 per year for all Personal Representative bonds up to $20,000 in size. For each additional $1,000 increase in the bond amount, the bond premium will increase by the corresponding amount outlined in the table below. See the chart below to calculate the price for larger bonds.

Bond AmountAdditional Premium (per $1,000)Bond Cost (1 year)
$0 - $20,000$150 flat rate$150
$20,001 - $60,000$6.00$150 - $390
$60,001 - $200,000$5.00$390 - $1,090
$200,001 - $500,000$3.75$1,090 - $2,215
$500,001 - $1,500,000$2.50$2,215 - $4,715
$1,500,000+$1.00$4,715+
Florida Administrator Bond Cost Breakdown

Jet does not require credit checks for applicants with bond sizes under $25,000 or under $50,000 if the applicant has retained an attorney.  Florida Probate Code allows Personal Representatives to charge the bond premium as an estate expense. 

Call us at (855) 470-0877 for an estimate of how much your probate bond will cost.

Why Is a Probate Bond Required of Fiduciaries in Florida? Are There Exemptions?

According to the Florida Probate Code (Chapters 731 through 736 of the Florida Statutes), personal representatives are responsible for the management, preservation, and distribution of a deceased person’s estate. The purpose of the bond is to protect the well-being of the estate and the beneficiaries from financial harm. If the personal representative fails to fulfill their duties for any reason, the probate bond will act as a financial guarantee to the damaged parties.

Unless the Personal Representative Bond requirement has been waived by the deceased person’s will specifically, or by the court, every fiduciary appointed in the State of Florida will need a surety bond. However, if the appointed fiduciary is a bank, trust company, or administrator ad litem, no bond is required. 

How to Apply for the Florida Personal Representative Bond With Jet

Jet’s application for the Personal Representative Bond can be completed online in just minutes. To begin, general information such as your contact details, personal social security number (for a soft credit check), and some details regarding the estate must be input. If there is a will and/or trust, a copy is required.

Once submitted, an underwriter will review your application and any accompanying documents. Shortly after, you’ll receive an approved rate via email that is ready for immediate purchase. All you need to do is select the payment and bond term option that works best for you and fulfill what is due. A copy of your receipt and bond form will be sent to you instantly after payment is complete.

How Are Florida Personal Representative Bonds Filed to the Probate Court?

The original signed and sealed bond form, along with any other required documents, must be filed with a Florida circuit court clerk, usually in the county in which the decedent lived at the time of their death. Once you have purchased your Personal Representative Bond with Jet, a signed and sealed original bond form will be sent to the mailing address indicated in your application. It is then up to you to sign the bond and file it with the appropriate county court. 

If you are unsure where to file your bond, Jet’s chart at the bottom of the page includes the mailing address and contact details for each judicial circuit court and the counties they manage in the State of Florida. The Clerk Directory webpage and Florida Court Locations webpage are also helpful resources.

What Happens if I Need to Cancel My Personal Representative Bond?

The Personal Representative Bond may be cancelled at any time, but only if certain steps are taken first. If early cancellation is necessary, you must send our team a written request to do so—email is fine: bonddept@jetsurety.com. Upon receipt of the email, Jet will send an official termination notice to the county probate court where the surety bond was originally filed. If the court accepts this request, the bond will be officially cancelled as soon as Jet receives a notice for release of further liability.  

The court will likely only allow your Personal Representative Bond to be released early if you have either fulfilled your fiduciary duties and closed the estate, successfully resigned as the estate’s personal representative (further details on this process can be found in Chapter 733, Part V of the Florida Statutes), or if you have supplied the probate court with a new bond. 

If you fail to supply the court with a new bond within the ordered timeline and are still the acting fiduciary, the court will remove you from your position.

When Does the Bond Obligation End for Florida Administrators and Executors?

The State of Florida requires Personal Representative Bonds to remain active and on file with the county probate court throughout the fiduciary’s entire appointment; this includes the final account hearing process. 

If your appointment as an administrator or executor is expected to continue past your purchased bond term, the Personal Representative Bond needs to be renewed. Jet will send you a renewal invoice in advance of the official bond term expiration date via mail and email. Complete payment and your bond will remain active with the probate court for another term.

Once you have fulfilled all obligations, the court will hold a mandatory account review hearing, and if all goes well, acceptance of the closing of the estate will be granted. At this time the personal representative will be officially discharged and the surety bond with Jet will be terminated, therefore relieving you of future liability.

Florida Administrator and Executor Bond Claim Process

Bond Claim Process

Estate personal representatives should be aware of probate bond claim details.

Florida County Probate Courts

Below is a list of all the county probate courts located in Florida, as well as their addresses, and if available, contact information. 

Judicial Circuit CourtCounty Courthouse Details
First CircuitEscambia County
Billy G. Ward Century Courthouse
7500 N Century Blvd.
Century, FL 32535
 Okaloosa County
Crestview Courthouse
101 James Lee Blvd. East
Crestview, FL 32536
Santa Rosa County
6865 Caroline Street
Milton, FL 32570
Walton County
571 Hwy. 90 East
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Second Circuit Franklin County
33 Market Street #203
Apalachicola, FL 32320
850-653-8861
Gadsden County
10 East Jefferson Street
Quincy, FL 32351
850-875-8601
Jefferson County
1 Court House Circle
Monticello, FL 32344
850-342-0218
Leon County
301 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32301
850-606-4000
Liberty County
P.O. Box 687
Bristol, FL 32321
850-643-2215
 Wakulla County
3056 Crawfordville Hwy.
Crawfordville, FL 32327
850-926-0905
Third CircuitColumbia County
173 N.E. Hernando Ave.
Lake City, FL 32055
Dixie County
214 N.E. Highway 351
Cross City, FL 32628
Hamilton County
207 First Street N.E.
Jasper, FL 32052
Lafayette County
120 West Main Street
Mayo, FL 32066
Madison County
125 Southwest Range Ave.
Madison, FL 32340
Suwannee County
200 South Ohio Ave.
Live Oak, FL 32064
Taylor County
108 North Jefferson St.
Perry, FL 32348
Fourth CircuitClay County
825 N Orange Ave
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
 Duval County
311 W Monroe St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
 Nassau County
76347 Veterans Way, Ste 456
Yulee, FL 32097
Fifth CircuitCitrus County
110 North Apopka Avenue
Inverness, FL 34450
352-341-6700
 Hernando County
20 North Main Street
Brooksville, FL 34601
352-754-4402
 Lake County
550 West Main Street
Tavares, FL 32778
352-253-1600
 Marion County
110 NW First Avenue
Ocala, FL 34475
352-401-6700
 Sumter County
215 East McCollum Avenue
Bushnell, FL 33513
352-569-6950
Sixth CircuitPasco County
Judicial Center
7530 Little Road
New Port Richey, FL 34654
 Pinellas County
Justice Center
14520 49th Street
Clearwater, FL 33762
Seventh CircuitPutnam County
410 St. Johns Ave.
Palatka, FL  32177
 Volusia County
101 N. Alabama Ave.
DeLand, FL  32724
Eighth CircuitAlachua County
220 South Main Street
Gainesville, FL 32601
 Baker County
339 East Macclenny Ave
Macclenny, FL 32063
 Bradford County
945 North Temple Ave
Starke, FL 32091
 Gilchrist County
112 South Main Street
Trenton, FL 32693
 Levy County
355 South Court Street
Bronson, FL 32621
 Union County
55 West Main Street
Lake Butler, FL 32054
Ninth CircuitOrange County
425 N. Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
407-836-2050
 Osceola County (same link as above)
2 Courthouses Square
Kissimmee, FL 34741
407-742-2400
Tenth CircuitHardee County
417 W. Main St.
Wauchula, FL 33873
863-773-4147
 Highlands County
430 S. Commerce Ave.
Sebring, FL 33870
863-402-6565
 Polk County
255 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
863-534-4000
Eleventh CircuitMiami-Dade County
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center
175 N.W. 1st Avenue
Miami, FL 33128
Twelfth CircuitDesoto County
115 East Oak Street
Arcadia, FL 34266
 Manatee County
1051 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205
 Sarasota County
2071 Ringling Blvd
Sarasota, FL 34237
Thirteenth Circuit Hillsborough County
800 E. Twiggs St.
Tampa, FL 33602
813-272-5894
Fourteenth CircuitBay County
300 East 4th Street 
Panama City, FL 32401
 Calhoun County
20859 East Central Avenue 
Blountstown, FL 32424
 Gulf County
1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd. 
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
 Holmes County
201 North Oklahoma Street 
Bonifay, FL 32425
 Jackson County
4445 Lafayette Street 
Marianna, FL 32446
 Washington County
1293 Jackson Ave. 
Chipley, Florida 32428
Fifteenth Circuit Palm Beach County
205 N. Dixie Hwy.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Sixteenth CircuitMonroe County
Freeman Justice Center
302 Fleming Street
Key West, FL 33040
305-292-3423
Seventeenth CircuitBroward County
Judicial Complex
201 SE 6th Street
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301
Eighteenth Circuit Brevard County
Moore Justice Center
2825 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera, FL 32940
 Seminole County
Downtown Civil Courthouse
301 N. Park Ave, Suite 301
Sanford, FL 32771
Nineteenth CircuitIndian River County
2000 16th Ave
Vero Beach, FL 32960
772-770-5185
 Martin County
100 SE Ocean Blvd
Stuart, FL 34994
772-288-5576
 Okeechobee County
312 N.W. 3rd St. 
Okeechobee, FL 34972
863-763-2131
 Saint Lucie County 
218 S 2nd St. 
Fort Pierce, FL 34950
772-462-6900
Twentieth CircuitCharlotte County
350 E. Marion Avenue
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
941-637-2281
 Collier County
3315 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, FL 34112
239-252-8800
 Glades County
Rt 27, 500 Avenue "J"
Moore Haven, FL 33471
863-946-6031
 Hendry County
25 E. Hickpochee
LaBelle, FL 33935
863-675-5217
 Lee County
2075 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-533-2878
Florida County Probate Courts

Florida Personal Representative Bond Form Sample

Florida Personal Representative Bond Form

Notary Bond Application:

Business Information:

Indemnity Agreement:

I, the undersigned, hereby apply for a Dishonesty Bond also known as a Business Service Bond or Janitorial Service Bond (“bond”) to the Surety Company (“SURETY”) through Jet Insurance Company (“JET”), with whom I hereby grant the authority to act on my behalf with respect to the bond and assign as my Broker of Record, and declare that the statements herein are true and correct. In consideration of the SURETY issuing, renewing or substituting said bond(s), I, individually and as the owner or officer of the bonded entity, hereby understand and agree, as follows: (i) to reimburse, hold harmless, and indemnify SURETY upon demand for all loss, liability, claim, expense, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, expert’s fees, investigative fees and claims handling fees, and any other cost which SURETY shall pay or incur in defense, adjustment, or settlement of such claims/suits by reason of such suretyship; (ii) that an itemized statement of loss and expenses by SURETY shall be indisputable proof of my liability to SURETY; (iii) coverage is subject to a $100 deductible; (iv) the employee must be convicted before coverage will apply (v) performance and any form of dispute resolution of this agreement shall take place in the county of SURETY's office of service; and (vi) a facsimile copy or electronically signed version of this agreement shall be binding as if it were an original. This agreement shall survive any changes in, substitute to or renewal of the bond(s).

Required Effect Date of Bond Policy:

Contact Information:

Employee Dishonesty Bond Application:

Business Information:

Business Description:

Coverage Requirements:

Indemnity Agreement:

I, the undersigned, hereby apply for a Dishonesty Bond also known as a Business Service Bond or Janitorial Service Bond (“bond”) to the Surety Company (“SURETY”) through Jet Insurance Company (“JET”), with whom I hereby grant the authority to act on my behalf with respect to the bond and assign as my Broker of Record, and declare that the statements herein are true and correct. In consideration of the SURETY issuing, renewing or substituting said bond(s), I, individually and as the owner or officer of the bonded entity, hereby understand and agree, as follows: (i) to reimburse, hold harmless, and indemnify SURETY upon demand for all loss, liability, claim, expense, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, expert’s fees, investigative fees and claims handling fees, and any other cost which SURETY shall pay or incur in defense, adjustment, or settlement of such claims/suits by reason of such suretyship; (ii) that an itemized statement of loss and expenses by SURETY shall be indisputable proof of my liability to SURETY; (iii) coverage is subject to a $100 deductible; (iv) the employee must be convicted before coverage will apply (v) performance and any form of dispute resolution of this agreement shall take place in the county of SURETY's office of service; and (vi) a facsimile copy or electronically signed version of this agreement shall be binding as if it were an original. This agreement shall survive any changes in, substitute to or renewal of the bond(s).

Required Effect Date of Bond Policy:

Contact Information:

Contract Bond Application:

Business Information:

Owner Information:

Job Details:

Indemnity Agreement:

I, the undersigned, hereby apply for a Dishonesty Bond also known as a Business Service Bond or Janitorial Service Bond (“bond”) to the Surety Company (“SURETY”) through Jet Insurance Company (“JET”), with whom I hereby grant the authority to act on my behalf with respect to the bond and assign as my Broker of Record, and declare that the statements herein are true and correct. In consideration of the SURETY issuing, renewing or substituting said bond(s), I, individually and as the owner or officer of the bonded entity, hereby understand and agree, as follows: (i) to reimburse, hold harmless, and indemnify SURETY upon demand for all loss, liability, claim, expense, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, expert’s fees, investigative fees and claims handling fees, and any other cost which SURETY shall pay or incur in defense, adjustment, or settlement of such claims/suits by reason of such suretyship; (ii) that an itemized statement of loss and expenses by SURETY shall be indisputable proof of my liability to SURETY; (iii) coverage is subject to a $100 deductible; (iv) the employee must be convicted before coverage will apply (v) performance and any form of dispute resolution of this agreement shall take place in the county of SURETY's office of service; and (vi) a facsimile copy or electronically signed version of this agreement shall be binding as if it were an original. This agreement shall survive any changes in, substitute to or renewal of the bond(s).

Required Effect Date of Bond Policy:

Contact Information:

Worker's Compensation Application:

Business Information:

Business Description:

Coverage Requirements

Indemnity Agreement:

I, the undersigned, hereby apply for a Dishonesty Bond also known as a Business Service Bond or Janitorial Service Bond (“bond”) to the Surety Company (“SURETY”) through Jet Insurance Company (“JET”), with whom I hereby grant the authority to act on my behalf with respect to the bond and assign as my Broker of Record, and declare that the statements herein are true and correct. In consideration of the SURETY issuing, renewing or substituting said bond(s), I, individually and as the owner or officer of the bonded entity, hereby understand and agree, as follows: (i) to reimburse, hold harmless, and indemnify SURETY upon demand for all loss, liability, claim, expense, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, expert’s fees, investigative fees and claims handling fees, and any other cost which SURETY shall pay or incur in defense, adjustment, or settlement of such claims/suits by reason of such suretyship; (ii) that an itemized statement of loss and expenses by SURETY shall be indisputable proof of my liability to SURETY; (iii) coverage is subject to a $100 deductible; (iv) the employee must be convicted before coverage will apply (v) performance and any form of dispute resolution of this agreement shall take place in the county of SURETY's office of service; and (vi) a facsimile copy or electronically signed version of this agreement shall be binding as if it were an original. This agreement shall survive any changes in, substitute to or renewal of the bond(s).

Required Effect Date of Bond Policy:

Contact Information: