If you are a Florida resident when you die and own any property in your own name without naming a beneficiary, your estate will be subject to administration, also known as probate. This is generally true whether you die with or without a valid will. A probate...
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Probate Administration
What happens when a person dies without a will?
Perhaps the best way to explain the importance of developing an estate plan is to discuss what happens when a person passes away without one. When examining a will and other estate planning documents, Florida probate courts refer to the deceased person as the...
Parents’ estate plans should not be a secret
Discussions about wills and other estate planning tools can be hard for the parent as well as the adult child. So hard, that some parents or their kids keep putting it off until its too late. This can leave a daughter unprepared for the fact that she was picked as...
Petty family settles dispute over estate
The music world was shocked when Tom Petty died of a prescription drug overdose in 2017. None took the news harder than the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s widow and two daughters from a previous marriage. In the months that followed, there were million-dollar...
Delays during probate are common
The loss of a loved one is rarely easy, particularly if the death was unexpected. Ideally, the decedent worked with a knowledgeable estate law attorney to draft a will, trust or other estate planning tools, but even with this planning, however, the probate process...
How to avoid probate proceedings in Florida
Probate can be an expensive and time-consuming process in Florida by dictating when, where and how to distribute a person's assets after their death. Surviving family members and other interested parties can trigger a probate process over the distribution of the...
Thanks, but no thanks
Many people will mourn the loss of a loved one, but they often will take solace if the decedent bequests or gifts money or assets to them. Sometimes, however, these thoughtful gestures are actually more trouble for the prospective beneficiary than if they had never...
Dealing with a decedent’s debt during probate
Millions of Americans carry debt, and many people will pass away owing at least some money. This could be in the form of a mortgage, credit card debts, personal loans or other types of liabilities. After a person passes away, it will be necessary to determine what...
Mistakes personal representatives should avoid during probate
Serving as the personal representative of an estate is a major responsibility. And despite the fact that it often involves complex legal and financial elements, the people who often serve as a personal representative are not people with legal or financial backgrounds....
4 key phrases you’ll likely hear during probate proceedings
After a loved one passes away, the probate process begins. This can be a highly complicated and emotionally-wrought experience, especially when people are still coping with grief and loss, so it is important to have a basic understanding of what to expect....