The bill amends Section 733.501 of the Florida Statutes, which pertains to the appointment and responsibilities of curators for estates. It establishes new criteria for when a court may appoint a curator, including circumstances where there is a significant danger of property being wasted or when a decedent dies without heirs or a qualified personal representative. The bill also outlines the authority and duties of curators, requiring them to take custody of the estate under specified conditions and act as trustees when appointed. Additionally, curators are mandated to post a reasonable bond, file periodic reports detailing their management of the estate, and are subject to removal and surcharge by the court.

The bill further clarifies that curators must provide regular updates to the court, which can request more frequent reporting if necessary. It also makes technical changes for consistency in terminology, ensuring that the term "curator" is uniformly used throughout the statute. The bill includes a reenactment of a related statute concerning fiduciary lawyer-client privilege to incorporate the amendments made to Section 733.501. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 520 Filed: 733.501
S 520 c1: 733.501