Estate Planning

An executor, also known as a Personal Representative in Florida is responsible for managing a deceased person’s debts and assets during probate. The  Personal Representative is also responsible for transferring assets to beneficiaries in accordance with a deceased...

Many Florida residents are familiar with the term "probate," which is the process by which a person’s assets are distributed after death, either in accordance with that person’s will or as provided for by the law in the absence of a will. Probate is done in court, and...

Not everyone has the ability to participate in a Florida will contest. In order to challenge a will or to defend against a challenge, one must be an interested party. At some point, courts will draw a line and keep some people out of the proceedings. When an estate is...

When a person dies without a will in Florida, their assets are distributed to heirs in accordance with what is called intestate succession. Under intestate succession, there is a set order of who will receive each portion of a decedent’s assets. For instance, if a...

When someone passes away, questions may arise about the division of assets. If the person has a will, then the answers likely exist in the wording of the document. Florida probate courts will oversee the division of assets based on the decedent's wishes. Not every...

Ideally, individuals in Florida and throughout the country will take proactive steps to make their estate plans as strong as possible. For instance, those who want to avoid probate might do so by creating a trust. Creating a trust might also help to protect assets...

If a person owns property in Florida, those items may be subject to probate when he or she dies. Generally speaking, probate applies to those who own assets in their own name or who receive wages or other payments after they die. In some cases, it may be possible to...

After a person dies, there is a chance that some or all of that person’s estate will be subject to probate. Generally speaking, Florida law dictates that assets that are passed by a will go through probate. If an asset was titled in the deceased person’s name, it will...

Beneficiaries may want to take advantage of high real estate prices to sell the home of their deceased loved one. However, they cannot do that on their own immediately after their family member passes. Instead, the sale must wait until the estate is settled and the...