Orlando Probate & Estate Administration Law Blog

Creating a will and estate plan is an important part of establishing your wishes for your legacy after you pass away. However, simply using these tools is not always enough to make sure that your beneficiaries do not challenge your will when the time comes. In many instances, family members and other potential beneficiaries challenge a will instead of accepting its terms, dragging out the process of distributing your property and potentially draining the value of your estate.

If you suspect that one or more individuals may take issue with the terms in your will and estate plan, it is important to understand the tools you have available to enforce your wishes. One of the tools that may strengthen your will is a well-crafted no-contest clause.

Over time, every business reaches the end of its life cycle, and the owners of the business must take the proper steps to dissolve it. Unfortunately, dissolving a business poorly can create lingering complications for the owners and for others involved in the business's activities.

If you believe it is time to close your business down, it is important to protect yourself and others during the dissolution process. With a strong legal strategy and a clear understanding of the steps you must take to comply with the law, you can cleanly close your business and keep your rights secure throughout the process.

The family home is a major asset for most Americans. Yet it’s becoming increasingly uncommon for aging Americans to own their home outright. Generations ago, a mortgage-free retirement was the norm. Now, it’s a rarity.

As a result, estates frequently include mortgaged real property. Executors are responsible for handling the disposition of the property and any debts that go along with it.

After losing a loved one, the prospect of navigating probate can be daunting – all the more so when they owned property in multiple states. It’s a common scenario in Florida, where many people own vacation properties. Frequently, their primary residence is in another state. Their will, family members and personal representative (sometimes called “executor” in other states) aren’t in Florida. Nonetheless, separate probate proceedings – called “ancillary probate” – may be necessary to deal with the Florida property.