Once again, we have the story of the estate of a beloved celebrity becoming the subject of litigation. Just a couple of weeks ago, we discussed the battle between Robin Williams’ wife and children over the terms of his trust. High-profile cases like this one show...
It may surprise some readers, but under Florida law, not every important piece of property goes through probate. Some things that you think of as part of your estate plan are not subject to probate, which may affect how you and your attorney craft your plan and adjust...
The more assets you have, the more complicated it may be to figure out how to distribute your stuff after you pass away. Even a deeply considered and carefully prepared estate plan cannot prevent all possible disputes between beneficiaries during probate. For example,...
Once you have set out the terms of your estate plan, an important next step is to pick the executor of your estate. This is an important job. The executor performs many tasks once the testator passes away. He or she identifies and manages the decedent's assets, tracks...
The will is a fundamental part of most estate plans. A good will can make the testator's final wishes clear to his or her survivors after the end comes.Just about every type of financial or personal property can be included in a will. But not everything associated...
A testator making significant changes to his or her estate plan late in life is often a cause for concern, especially for beneficiaries whose share of the estate has been reduced or eliminated. They may wonder if a new beneficiary is manipulating the testator, whose...
Most people use their estate plan to leave the bulk of their belongings to their spouse, their children or both. However, a person’s will can name as beneficiaries virtually any person or charity they wish.Occasionally, people even name their pets as...
The ability to communicate is a vital part of any relationship. Few families that cannot talk to each other about anything, no matter how emotionally difficult, can be described as truly healthy. If we cannot come to our spouses, parents or siblings with our troubles,...
A common expectation for many people setting up their estate plan, or updating their existing plan, is that their spouse and children will continue to live in the family home if the testator dies first. Few would like the idea of creditors getting their hands on the...
How long the probate process takes in Florida depends on several factors. One of the most important factors is the size of the estate. It may make sense to hear that the larger the estate, and the more beneficiaries named by the decedent, the more complex probate...
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