Are you surprised by the estate plan that your loved one left behind? Were you left with less of an inheritance than you expected as a result? If so, then you need to take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding the creation of your loved one’s estate plan to...
The court must determine if a will is valid and legitimate before authorizing an estate administrator to execute the will's instructions. For a will to be valid, the testator must have been of sound mind and body when they signed it. However, some people, even family...
Sometimes, our situation prevents us from being physically close to our parents. Whether it is because we reside in another state or our jobs are not very flexible, it can be challenging to be hands-on in our parents’ care. Fortunately, estate planning tools such as...
When a loved one passes away in Florida, the executor or personal representative responsible for administering the estate has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries. Unfortunately, there are cases where the executor breaches this duty,...
When family relationships sour, estrangement between parties may occur. Bitter feelings and acrimony can increase when a family member dies due to disputes over the estate. Though conscientious individuals may create a will in hopes of eliminating such contention,...
When a parent leaves an asset that is not physically divisible to multiple heirs, such as the family home, disputes can arise when the heirs do not all agree on what to do with the asset. The Florida Probate Code governs the options that heirs have. What happens if...
When someone in Florida dies and leaves behind a will, beneficiaries named – or not named – in the document may take issue with it if they believe the person who drafted the will did not do so on his or her own accord. There are only a few valid reasons for...
Probate is a process often associated with lengthy proceedings and large expenses. This is not always the case, but people believe it because there is a lot of confusion surrounding probate. Proceedings also have the potential to be complex (though again, this is not...
A will is a central feature of any estate plan. Without one, survivors lack instructions on the desired distribution of assets. A will also might contain information on guardianship and how to handle incapacitation. For these reasons and more, they are critical....
Florida law defines estate planning and management in detail. The aim is to allow for estate planning to go over smoothly with the loved ones of the deceased. In many cases, it works as intended. But there are still instances where people find a way to manipulate the...