Protecting
Your Legacy
Fulfilling a deceased person's financial obligations is an important component of the probate or estate administration process. Personal representatives or executors look over incoming mail and household financial records to identify known creditors. They also publish...
You might assume that your estate plan belongs entirely to you. Many people believe they can decide who receives their assets after death without restrictions. However, Florida law provides specific protections for surviving spouses that limit your ability to cut...
Many people find that they have met their match when they try to get through the Florida probate process on their own. Don’t let that make you feel bad, however. It’s perfectly understandable that people get flustered and frustrated with the probate court system....
Experiencing the loss of someone you love is never easy. In addition to the emotional toll it places on you and your family, you must also push through your grief and oversee the legal matters related to your loved one’s death. While navigating probate may seem...
As parents and relatives grow older, many families begin helping with everyday financial matters. You might check in about bills, help review bank statements or assist with important paperwork. While this support can be part of caring for an aging loved one, it can...
As people age, they often become more reliant on others for basic daily matters. Changes in physical health and mental acuity can leave people dependent on caregivers for everything from personal hygiene to consistently taking their medication on time. Unfortunately,...
You may start probate in your home state and feel ready to move on. Then you may discover a Florida condo, lot or rental home titled only in the decedent’s name. That detail may lead to ancillary probate, a second court process focused on Florida-based assets. State...
In some cases, a person passes away, and family members and other beneficiaries find that there are differences between their estate planning documents. There may be a conflict between a life insurance policy and a will, for example. Say that an elderly person took...
Probate proceedings can require months of a person's time and attention. The personal representative administering the estate must attend court hearings, send notice to creditors and wait to distribute resources to beneficiaries. Those expecting an inheritance may...
Older adults are relatively vulnerable. They often have physical limitations that may not have affected their daily lives when they were younger. Many people also experience cognitive decline later in life. Those challenges can make it very difficult to live alone....