When an estate goes through probate in Florida, one party has to be responsible for certain estate administration tasks. If the deceased person left a valid will, they appointed a personal representative to oversee the administration. (In other states, this role is...
Probate
Probate
The formal administration process in Florida
Probate is essentially the supervised legal process for closing out the estate of the deceased according to the laws of the state in which they resided. In Florida, there are two main types of probate, formal and summary administration, and there is also a process...
The 4 grounds for challenging a will
Losing a loved one is never easy and finding out you were left out of their will can come as an unpleasant shock. When this happens, those in the Tampa area may want to contest the will especially if they believe their disinheritance was due to defects in the will,...
Accused of breach of fiduciary duty? Know how to defend yourself
Serving as a trustee can be an honor, but it can also be enormously stressful. After all, you’re tasked with putting the financial interests of others ahead of your own, and when it comes to money, every minor misstep is placed under the microscope. While most...
The probate process starts with the filing of a petition
One of the few guarantees in life for people in Florida is that at some point in time everyone will pass away. People may not know when or how they may pass away though. The hope is that people will live a long, full life but not everyone is that lucky. However, no...
Why are wills contested in probate?
A will is a powerful testamentary document that can help a Tampa resident accomplish their estate planning wishes. Through a will a person can bequeath property to beneficiaries, identify guardians for their minor children, and direct assets to charitable...
Why knowing about the fiduciary duty is important
Estate plans are meant to give clear guidance as to how assets are to be distributed upon death. While many estate plans are very clear and there is little dispute as to their validity, issues can still arise during the administration of the estate. For example,...
When can someone contest a will?
A last will and testament may seemingly reflect the deceased wishes, but family members, business partners, and others could be unhappy with its text. In Florida, laws exist to establish a process for contesting a will. Disagreeing with the deceased's wishes won't be...
Executing a last will and testament
Florida residents with assets or property to their name should look into creating a will or trust to ensure that their assets are delivered to the right people after they pass away. As part of this process, a person needs to select someone to be an executor for the...
Probate litigation in Florida
When a parent dies, the adult children who are left behind might slip into a chaotic legal battle over the division of assets. These battles can produce long-term hard feelings as well as mounting legal bills. However, some pre-planning by the parents can help reduce...
