Large Miami estates need careful planning and strong guidance. Many families in Miami own high-value real estate, multi-layer investments, or business interests that can make probate feel overwhelming. Others hold property overseas or maintain accounts in more than one country. These details add significant work and risk to the probate process.
Our firm focuses on large Miami estates that start around eight figures in probate assets and often reach well beyond that. We regularly help personal representatives and families work through probate when there are multiple properties, cross-border issues, and complex family dynamics.
What Makes Miami Large Estates Different
Miami’s most valuable estates rarely fit into a simple checklist. High net worth families often leave behind a mix of luxury real estate, business interests, international bank accounts, and family members spread across multiple countries. These families and properties are typically located in:
- Brickell and downtown Miami
- Coral Gables and Coconut Grove
- Miami Beach, Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour, and Aventura
Our Miami large-estate probate work is built on the same foundation as our statewide Large Probate Estate Services, with a special focus on a wider range of assets:
- Luxury real estate and condo portfolios
- Foreign real estate in Latin America or Europe
- Offshore bank accounts
- LLCs formed outside the United States
- Luxury waterfront homes
- Yachts or marina slips
- Local business interests or medical practices
- Privacy and family communication
This mix creates more documents, more valuations, and more time-sensitive decisions. Miami estates also involve heirs who live in other countries. Probate then requires careful communication so everyone understands each step.
Why Large Miami Estates Require Extra Care
Large Miami estates bring together three things that make probate more complex:
- High-value property and investments
- Possible federal estate tax exposure
- International or out-of-state connections
Miami large estate probate often combines real estate, investments, and tax questions in a way that needs organized legal and financial planning from the very first filing.
Some features that commonly complicate Miami estates include:
- Multiple luxury condos or homes
Brickell, Miami Beach, Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour, and other high-end neighborhoods may all appear in the same estate. Each property has its own mortgage, insurance, and tax history. - Foreign real estate and bank accounts
Property or accounts in Latin America, Europe, or the Caribbean may require coordination with local counsel, certified translations, and extra documentation for the Miami-Dade probate court. - Offshore entities and trusts
Some families use foreign companies or trusts. These structures can be helpful for planning but can also slow down probate if records are incomplete or scattered. - Privately held businesses
Professional practices, family-owned companies, or LLCs may need valuations and decisions about whether to sell, wind down, or continue the business.
Who Uses Our Miami Large Estate Probate Services
We work with a range of families and representatives involved in large Miami estates, including:
- Personal representatives / executors appointed to handle estates with significant Miami-Dade property and investments
- Surviving spouses who need clear guidance and help with day-to-day probate tasks
- Adult children, including those who live outside Florida or outside the United States
- International families who own Miami property but live primarily in other countries
- Real estate investors and business owners whose estate includes multiple properties, investments, and operating companies
Executors who live outside Florida often rely on our team to handle daily work in Miami so the estate stays on track while the executor focuses on high-level decisions and communication with the family.
What Counts as a Large Estate in Miami
Every estate is unique, but large Miami estates often include one or more of the following asset categories:
High-value real estate
- Primary residence in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, or Pinecrest
- Luxury condos in Brickell, Edgewater, or Miami Beach
- Waterfront or bay-front homes in Miami Beach or surrounding areas
- Investment properties or multi-family buildings across Miami-Dade
- Foreign real estate
Marine and recreational assets
- Boats and yachts
- Membership interests in marinas or yacht clubs
- High-value vehicles or collectibles
Business and professional interests
- Ownership in family-owned or closely held businesses
- Professional practices (medical, legal, financial, or consulting)
- Interests in LLCs or partnerships that hold real estate or investments
Investment and retirement accounts
- Brokerage and investment accounts
- Retirement plans (IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.)
- Alternative investments, such as private equity or venture capital funds
Trusts, LLCs, and other entities
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts created during life
- LLCs holding investment property or other assets
- Interests in out-of-state or foreign companies
Many large Miami estates reach levels where federal estate tax may apply, and some hold property or accounts in other countries. Careful asset lists and accurate values become important for both court filings and tax reporting.
Common Miami Large Estate Problems
When an estate is large and complex, small issues can quickly become big problems. Some of the most common challenges we see include:
Cross-border issues
Foreign real estate and bank accounts may require local lawyers abroad and translated records before the Miami-Dade probate court will accept them.
How we help: We coordinate with foreign professionals, obtain certified translations, and build a clear record so the court understands the value and status of these assets.
Multiple high-value properties
Carrying costs, insurance, and upkeep add up quickly when the estate includes several high-end homes and condos.
How we help: We assist with appraisals, property management decisions, and sales where appropriate, so the estate can preserve value and maintain liquidity.
Business and professional interests
Businesses cannot simply “pause” while probate plays out. Employees, clients, and partners need clarity.
How we help: We work with accountants and other advisors to value the business, keep essential operations running when possible, and support decisions about whether to sell, continue, or wind down the company.
Foreign heirs and out-of-state family
Family members who live abroad or in other states may feel unsure about deadlines, documents, and signatures.
How we help: We use secure online systems and clear written updates so everyone stays informed and can participate in decisions without having to travel frequently to Miami.
Privacy and family tension
High-value estates can attract attention and sometimes conflict within the family.
How we help: We focus on clear communication, practical solutions, and, when possible, keeping sensitive information out of the public eye within the limits of Florida law.
The Probate Process for Large Estates in Miami
Formal probate administration is the most common path for large estates in Miami. The steps are straightforward to list, but they become more complex when the estate includes high-value assets, international property, or business interests.
Our Miami work builds on our core Large Probate Estate Services for high net worth families across Florida.
Step 1: Opening the estate
- File the necessary documents with the court
- Ask the court to appoint a personal representative (executor)
- Obtain Letters of Administration, giving the personal representative authority to act
Step 2: Gathering information
- Identify and collect information on all assets and debts
- Request statements, deeds, and corporate records
- Locate and review any existing wills or trust documents
Step 3: Notifying creditors and interested parties
- Publish required notices to creditors
- Notify known creditors and potential claimants
- Provide legally required notices to heirs and beneficiaries
Step 4: Valuing and managing the estate
- Obtain appraisals for real estate, businesses, and high-value personal property
- Evaluate which assets should be sold and which should be retained
- Coordinate with financial and tax advisors as needed
Step 5: Handling debts and taxes
- Review and either pay or dispute creditor claims
- Address mortgages, loans, and other liabilities
- Work with tax professionals to handle income and estate tax filings, if required
Step 6: Distributing the estate and closing the file
- Make distributions to heirs and beneficiaries according to the will or Florida law
- Resolve any remaining issues or disputes
- File the final paperwork to close the estate with the court
Why High Net Worth Miami Families Work With SJF Law Group
Choosing a probate lawyer for a large estate is an important decision. Families often turn to our firm because we offer:
- Experience with complex Miami estates
Including estates with multiple condos, international assets, and business interests. - Support for out-of-state and international executors
We work closely with personal representatives who live outside Florida or outside the U.S., handling local details while you stay in control of major decisions. - Guidance on tax and liquidity questions
Large estates may face tax and cash-flow issues. We help you plan sales or financing so the estate can meet its obligations without unnecessary stress. - Coordination with other advisors
We regularly work with financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals to keep the estate’s legal, financial, and tax work aligned. - Clear communication and practical advice
We explain each step in plain language and keep you informed so you know what is happening and why.
Frequently Asked Questions About Miami Large Estate Probate
- What makes Miami large estate probate more complex than other areas?
Miami estates often include foreign assets, offshore accounts, multiple luxury properties, and business interests. These details create more work for valuations, communication, and tax planning. - Do Miami estates over $10 million always go through formal probate?
Large estates almost always require formal probate administration unless the owner used trusts or other tools during life to bypass court involvement. - How long does large estate probate take in Miami?
Many Miami formal probate matters finish in six to twelve months. Large estates with foreign property, business interests, or disputes often take longer, sometimes eighteen to twenty-four months. - How do you protect privacy during Miami probate?
We limit unnecessary detail in filings, use secure communication for documents, and help families understand what remains private and what becomes part of the public record. - How are foreign assets handled?
We coordinate with foreign attorneys to verify ownership, arrange valuations, and meet legal requirements in each country. - What are the tax issues for a large Miami estate?
Florida does not impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax. But large estates may face federal estate tax and potential tax issues in other states or countries. Coordination with CPAs and tax professionals is essential. - Do boats, yachts, or waterfront homes add complexity?
Yes. These assets require specialized appraisals, may involve additional registration or titling issues, and often demand fast decisions to preserve value. - How do you manage estates when some heirs live abroad?
We use secure electronic document systems, schedule flexible calls, and ensure clear communication protocols so international heirs are fully informed. - Can a business owned by the decedent continue during probate?
Yes. We help structure the probate process so the business remains operational while the estate is administered, minimizing disruption. - What should I bring to the first consultation?
• Death certificate
• Copy of will and any trust documents
• List of major assets (properties, business interests, investment accounts, foreign holdings)
• Contact information for any foreign advisors or entities
Talk With a Miami Probate Attorney About a Large Estate
If you are responsible for a large estate in Miami-Dade, you do not have to manage everything alone. Whether you live in Miami, elsewhere in Florida, another state, or another country, we can help you:
- Understand your responsibilities as personal representative
- Organize information about assets and debts
- Navigate the court process and key deadlines
- Coordinate with professionals in other states or countries where needed
Feel free to request a confidential consultation about Miami large estate probate if you are:
- Executors responsible for estates above $10 million
- Families with cross-border assets
- Owners of high-value condos and waterfront homes
- Business owners and professionals
- Heirs who need a steady plan after a loss
