Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Florida

Here's a strange question. How would one pay restitution to someone who has passed away? Background..I was incarcerated for 7 years and just got out a year ago. The same day I was sentenced, I was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim. I wasn't able to do it while locked up. Turns out, just two years later, while I was still locked up he passed away. I just found this out. I am trying to make right with him and the order and my life. My girlfriend is really good with searching public records and found where the deed to his mobile home was transfered to someone and found the name of the personal representative. Without being like a creepy stalker, how can we find out who to give the money to? It's $150. My girlfriend said that maybe it should go to his estate? But how does that work? Should we try to find an address for the personal rep lady or give it to the person who lives in his house now? Can we give it to the clerk of the court? Maybe give it to a charity in his name, but then no one in his family would know that I did that for him. Please let me know. I'd like to do what I am supposed to do now that I am trying to get my life back on track. Thanks.


Asked on 7/26/10, 8:07 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Richard Kaplan

Since it is only $150, it's not worth doing to much since it would be eaten up by attorneys and court costs.

Since you know who the Personal Representative is, you should contact them. They would know who the beneficiaries were of the estate. You could also go to the court file and find out some of this information too. Then arrange a check to them.

However, since it is part of the court ordered restitution, you also should check with the court to make sure they are OK with this, and it satisfies the Order.

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Answered on 7/26/10, 11:28 am


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