Yes. A family member serving as trustee in Florida is entitled to the same compensation as a professional. Many family trustees waive or reduce the fee, especially when they are also beneficiaries, since the fee is taxable income to the trustee while a distribution usually is not. A record of time and duties is what supports any fee taken if a beneficiary or a court asks.

Settling a trust in Florida starts when the successor trustee accepts the role: the trustee obtains death certificates and an EIN for the now-irrevocable trust, notifies the beneficiariesFla. Stat. § 736.0101 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source within 60 daysFla. Stat. §§ 736.0813, 736.1008, 736.10081Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, takes inventory of the trust assets, settles the grantor's debts and taxes, and distributes what remains under the trust terms. The process runs privately, without probate court supervision.

No court proceeding is required to settle assets titled in the trust; the successor trustee administers and distributes them under the trust terms, and the court comes in only for a dispute, a trustee removal or judicial instructions. Assets the grantor left outside the trust pass through the pour-over will, and a small enough set can skip full probate: Florida sets no dollar limit for its Disposition Without AdministrationFla. Stat. § 733.402 (bond — required by default: "Unless the bond requirement has been waived by the will or by the courtVerified Sep 8, 2026View source; eligibility turns on other tests. The Florida probate decision tool checks whether any outside asset needs a court filing.

Because Florida has no state income taxFla. Const. Art. VII, § 5(a)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, the primary filing is the final federal income tax return (Form 1040) for income earned through the date of death. If the estate earns income during administration, a federal fiduciary return (Form 1041) may be required. No state income tax return is needed.