Recent Blog Posts
Your Estate Planning Hurricane Box
In Florida, no one has a basement; it is simply not possible to build a basement into the limestone. Likewise, most people do not have a proper attic. Every Florida household has a hurricane box, however; depending on how much space you have in your house or apartment, you might keep it in your… Read More »
Do You Qualify For Summary Administration Or Disposition Without Administration?
Anyone whose financial situation went from bad to worse because of the costs and time commitments involved with the probate of a deceased family member’s estate can tell you that it is a mistake to believe that you do not need to write a will. Probate isn’t just about money; it is about decision-making… Read More »
Removing A Personal Representative From A Probate Case
Not every probate case includes a will, but they always involve a personal representative. The personal representative is responsible for following the instructions in the will to distribute the estate to beneficiaries, but only after settling the decedent’s outstanding debts and filing a final tax return on behalf of the estate. If the decedent… Read More »
Do Too Many Personal Representatives Spoil The Estate?
If your estate goes through probate, whether or not you have a will, the probate court will appoint a personal representative, also sometimes called an executor of the will. Your will should mention by name the person you choose to be personal representative of your estate. By including this provision in your will, you… Read More »
Retirement Accounts: An Underrated Asset Protection Strategy
Perhaps your mother was right that, when trying to get others to see your point of view or do your bidding, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. Estate planning lawyers can attest, however, that while some people enter the law office with dreams of being generous to their descendants,… Read More »
Maybe Revocable Trusts Are Overrated
Writing a will is a good first step toward building an estate plan. It can bring you a sense of relief, since you have cleared up ambiguities about how you want the probate court to distribute your property, but it does not make you feel financially well off. Typing your will in a Word… Read More »
How Does Probate Work If The Decedent Was Not A Legal Resident Of Florida?
If you moved to Florida late in life, you are in good company. A common topic of conversation in Florida is how rare it is to meet a native Floridian above the age of 30. Some people settle in Florida during their working years, while others choose it as a retirement destination, and then… Read More »
A Probate Lawyer’s Perspective On Spousal Estrangement
A will is not valid unless the testator signs it in the presence of two witnesses, but the witnesses do not have to be beneficiaries of the will, and they do not even have to read it carefully. Some people keep their silence about the contents of their wills. This strategy can keep the… Read More »
Do Children That The Decedent Placed For Adoption Decades Ago Have Inheritance Rights?
Family relationships are rarely simple. Some stepparents are among their stepchildren’s closest confidantes; in some cases, when a remarried person dies, the decedent’s surviving spouse and the decedent’s children from a previous marriage will unofficially share the responsibilities of probate, even though the will only lists one of them as personal representative of the… Read More »
Is Inaction A Feasible Solution To The Stepparent Wars?
Finding love late in life can make you feel young again, but if you truly have your new partner’s best interests in mind, you do not let the butterflies feeling distract you from your awareness of mortality. Of all the gestures of love you might want to make toward your new sweetie, the one… Read More »