SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 326

Curators of Estates
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SPONSOR
Judiciary; Burgess
FILED BY
Danny Burgess — District 23, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/HB 131 — CS/SB 326 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Legal.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Curators of Estates; Revising the authorization for a court to appoint a curator of estates; revising bond requirements for a curator of estates; clarifying who may subject a curator of estates to removal and surcharge; authorizing the court to require more frequent reporting or additional documents under certain circumstances, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires curators of estates to post bond unless waived.

Curators of estates must now post a reasonable bond unless the court waives it, reversing the earlier rule where bond was required only if the court decided it was necessary. Banks and trust companies remain exempt.

Courts gain a broad new basis to appoint a curator: whenever deemed necessary to protect an estate or a decedent's heirs, even outside the danger or notice scenarios the law previously listed.

The court can now order a curator to file reports on estate management whenever it decides that's necessary, and can demand more frequent reports or extra documentation without further justification.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New catch-all ground for appointing a curator majors. 733.501

AICourts gain a third path to appoint a curator, usable whenever a judge decides it is necessary to protect an estate or its heirs, without the danger or notice findings the other two paths require.

“In any other proper case, the court may appoint a curator when deemed necessary to protect the interests of an estate or a decedent's heirs” bill text, line 36 →
§ 2 Bond required by default, waivable only by the court majors. 733.501

AICurators must post a reasonable bond unless the court waives it, replacing a rule under which bond was required only if the court decided it was necessary. Banks and trust companies stay exempt from bond.

“Unless waived by the court, curators must post a reasonable bond in an amount to be determined by the court” bill text, line 39 →
§ 3 Court may compel more frequent reporting from curators moderates. 733.501

AICurators must file reports on their management of the estate whenever the court decides that is necessary, and courts can now require more frequent reporting or additional documents to protect the estate.

“The court may require more frequent reporting or additional documentation as it deems necessary to protect the interests of the estate” bill text, line 56 →
§ 4 Clarifies that only the court may remove or surcharge a curator technicals. 733.501

AIThe law now specifies that curators are subject to removal and surcharge by the court, clarifying that this power belongs to the court rather than leaving the actor unspecified.

“Curators are subject to removal and surcharge by the court”
TIMELINE
3/5/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 131 (Ch....
3/5/2026
Substituted CS/HB 131 -SJ 588
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 588
3/2/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/05/26
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/24/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/11/2026
Now in Rules
2/11/2026
Favorable by Banking and Insurance; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
2/6/2026
On Committee agenda-- Banking and Insurance, 02/11/26, 9:00 am,...
2/4/2026
Now in Banking and Insurance
2/4/2026
CS by Judiciary read 1st time
2/4/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/3/2026
CS by Judiciary; YEAS 11 NAYS 0
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 02/03/26, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/17/2025
Referred to Judiciary; Banking and Insurance; Rules
11/3/2025
Filed
12 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 733.501
+179 / −32
s. 733.501
+0 / −0
s. 90.5021
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
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