Florida Probate Form C4

Letters Of Curatorship

Everything you need to know about Florida Form C4, including helpful tips, fast facts & deadlines, how to fill it out, where to submit it and other related FL probate forms.

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About Letters Of Curatorship

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Letters Of Curatorship is a commonly used form within Florida. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

Atticus Fast Facts About Letters Of Curatorship

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Letters Of Curatorship:

  • This form pertains to the State of Florida

  • The official Florida source for this form is here.

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Florida’s Form C4 - Letters Of Curatorship up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

How to file Form C4

Step 1 - Download the correct Florida form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Florida probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form C4, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in FL are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form C4 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form C4 witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Letters Of Curatorship to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

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When Letters Of Curatorship is due

Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Florida.

5 reasons you should submit C4 as quickly as possible:

  1. The sooner you begin, the faster Florida can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.

    Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

  2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

  3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

  4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Florida. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

  5. If a house in the State of Florida is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Florida probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Florida probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form C4, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

How to Download, Open, and Edit Form C4 Online

Letters Of Curatorship is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Florida probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Florida.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form C4 - Letters Of Curatorship f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Florida probate court office.

Letters Of Curatorship is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Florida-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

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Did you know?

  • Form C4 - Letters Of Curatorship is a probate form in Florida.

  • Florida has multiple types of probate and the necessary forms depend on the unique aspects of each estate, such as type and value of assets, whether there was a valid will, who is serving as the personal representative or executor, and even whether or not they also live in Florida.

  • During probate, all personal representatives and executives in are required to submit a detailed inventory of assets that must separate non-probate assets from probate assets.

  • Probate in Florida, especially without guidance, can take years to finish and cost upwards of $14,000.

Frequently Asked Questions about Letters Of Curatorship

Probate is the government’s way of making sure that when a person dies, the right stuff goes to the right people (including the taxes the government wants).

All of that stuff is collectively known as someone’s “estate”, and it’s the job of the executor or personal representative to fill out all the forms and complete all the required steps to formally dissolve the estate. 

To get instant clarity on the entire probate process and get an idea of the steps, timeline, and best practices, read the Atticus Beginner’s Guide to Probate

The best place? Create an account in Atticus to start getting estate-specific advice. 

You may need a lawyer, you may not, and paying for one when you didn’t need it really hurts. Atticus makes sure you make  the best decisions (plus you can write it off as an executor expense).

We’ve also created a list of other probate services. Be sure to check it out!

An executor is named in someone’s will, and if the deceased didn’t have a will, then the spouse or other close family relative usually steps up to fulfill the role. If no one wants to do it, then a judge will appoint someone. 

The executor is responsible for the complete management of the probate process, including major responsibilities such as:

  • Creating an inventory of all probate assets.

  • Filling out all necessary forms

  • Paying off all estate debts and taxes

  • Submitting reports to the court and beneficiaries as requested

And much more. This process often stretches longer than a year. 

For an idea of what separates executors who succeed from those who make this way harder than it should be, visit our article, Executors of an Estate:
What they do & secrets to succeeding
.

The Exact Text on Form C4

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Florida Form C4 - Letters Of Curatorship. You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION IN RE: ESTATE OF ____________________________________________ Deceased. Case No. _________________ Section _________________ C-4 LETTERS OF CURATORSHIP TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WHEREAS, the above resident of _____________________________________, died on _________________________, owning assets in the State of Florida (“Decedent”); and WHEREAS, ____________________________ has been appointed curator (“Curator”) of the Decedent’s estate (“Estate”), and has taken the prescribed oath and performed all other acts prerequisite to issuance of letters of curatorship of the Estate (“Letters of Curatorship”), as the legally qualified Curator of the Estate, NOW, THEREFORE, I, the undersigned Circuit Judge, do grant to _________________, the Curatorship of the Estate, until a personal representative can be appointed, with full power to collect and preserve the assets that belonged to the Decedent in his/her lifetime and at the time of his/her death, and to ask, demand, sue for, recover, and receive these assets for the purpose of turning over and delivering them to the legally appointed and qualified personal representative of the Estate, and all persons in possession of assets of the decedent are ordered and directed to deliver them to the Curator. Specifically, by Court Order dated ___________________, the Curator was ordered to perform the following duties and functions: 1.Marshall all of the assets of the Estate. 2.File a verified inventory with the Court within sixty days of issuance of Letters of Administration. 3.Have income tax returns prepared and filed for the Estate, if necessary. 4.Obtain appraisals and gather asset valuation information required in the preparation of the Federal Estate Tax Return, Form 706, and the Preliminary Notice and Report as are or may be due for the Estate. 5.Protect Estate assets in the best interests of the Estate. 6.File the Federal Estate Tax Return, Form 706, and the Preliminary Notice and Report in a timely manner. 7.Request extensions, if necessary, and obtain tax releases from the Internal Revenue Service and/or the State of Florida for the Estate. Page 1 of 2 Probate Division:Case Name:Case No.: 8.Institute and defend all lawsuits and hire such counsel to represent the Curator and the Estate in such matters with the approval of the Court. 9.Publish applicable Notice to Creditors, and such other Notices as may be required or necessary. 10.Perform any duty or function which a personal representative may be granted. 11.Perform such other matters as this Court, upon proper notice and approval, directs for the administration of this Estate until such time as Letters of Curatorship can be granted. 12.Perform with full authority the acts listed above; and shall, in all respects, do and perform all the duties as are by law and order of this Court required of a curator. These Letters of Curatorship are hereby issued to the Curator to perform the above duties and functions, subject to the following restrictions: 1.This Estate must be closed within 24 months unless otherwise authorized by court order. 2.Unless an appropriate bond has been entered into and approved by the Court, the Curator shall place all liquid assets in a depository designated by this Court pursuant to Section 69.031, Florida Statutes (“Depository”). This is a frozen account. No funds can be withdrawn without an order of this Court. 3.The Curator shall file receipt of assets by the Depository within thirty days from the issuance of these letters. 4.If Florida real estate is sold, per court order, a closing statement shall be filed, and the sale’s net proceeds shall be placed in the Depository. 5.The Curator and the Depository shall jointly receive all monies payable to the Estate. 6.There shall be no sale, encumbrance, borrowing, or gifting of any assets without a court order. 7.Any apportionment of a wrongful death settlement must be approved by this Court. 8.These letters do not authorize entry into any safe deposit box without a court order. 9.The verified inventory shall be filed within sixty days. ORDERED on this ____day of ______________, 20_____. __________________________________________ Circuit Judge LETTER OF CURATORSHIP Page 2 of 2

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