For most people in Florida, their homes are one of the most valuable things they own. It could also be one of the largest assets passed along in the owner's estate.If the house goes through probate, it could trigger tax consequences that the testator would rather not...
Estate Administration
Many couples putting retirement planning before estate planning
Estate planning can help you plan for and protect your future. However, new reports show that many people are focusing more on retirement planning than estate planning. Failing to create an estate plan can lead to serious trouble down the road that your retirement...
Living will vs. durable power of attorney
Do you know what will happen to you if you become incapacitated or are unable to make decisions regarding your health? Having a living will or durable power of attorney can make all the difference in the event you cannot make end-of-life decisions for...
10 years after Terri Schiavo’s death, a reminder of living wills
Yesterday, March 31, was the 10-year anniversary of Terri Schiavo's death. Most of our readers remember the saga of this woman's case, which pitted her husband against the rest of her family. It is a good time to remember how important it is to have a living will as...
Many are pushing for guardianship reform in Florida
We have written before in this blog about guardianships, which can protect a person’s well-being or property if he or she is no longer able to do so, due to dementia or other health reasons. However, in the wrong hands guardianship can lead to a person being...
Personal representatives owe the estate a fiduciary duty
We have spoken before about personal representatives, also known as executors, and their role in the probate process in Florida. Serving as a personal representative for a person’s estate after he or she dies is an important job, and not one to take lightly. The...
Dealing with creditors during probate
Depending on what stage of life a person is in when he or she passes away, he or she may die with several unpaid debts. While it may be nice to have the mortgage and business loans paid off before death, life is often less tidy than that.Thus, many personal...
Florida’s homestead exemption protects the family home
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...
What are the 3 types of probate administration in Florida?
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...
What is a ‘power of attorney?’
As adults, most of us make our own decisions about where we live, how we spend our money and when it is time to go to the doctor. But someday, illness, age or disability may leave us unable to continue to keep full control of our lives.Rather than forcing someone with...
Find Out How We Can Help You: Contact Us Today
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. We have office in Orlando.