Q: Question Involving Inheritance/Personal Possessions
I was wondering, If an individual dies in the State of Florida without any heirs or any living relatives or children whatsoever, does the state collect the items that once belonged to the person? and if so, what exactly happens to those items? Are they sold/auctioned off, or does something else happen?
Also, in regards to electronic devices, are the contents of said devices viewed by anyone in any capacity before the device is sold off/ridden of, or can that only be done via court order?
A:
If in fact there are no remote cousins, or other heirs, it is possible that it could be escheated to the state under Chapter 717 of the Florida Statutes.
Normally electronic devices such as smart phones or other computers are password protected. If not, who would object? It probably wouldn't be necessary to seek a court order in the absence of a potential objecting party.
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