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Florida Probate: How can I open a safe deposit box owned by a person who has passed away?
One of the problems that occurs in a Florida probate case is that the decedent (person who passed away) had a safe deposit box. Sometimes, the decedent stored his or her will in the safe deposit box. Other times, the personal representative in the probate needs to...
How do I pay for nursing home care in Florida?
One of the concerns we have as our family members age is how a family member will be able to pay for nursing home care if he or she needs it. Depending on the source, in 2018 the average cost of nursing home care in Florida is approximately $9,171.00 per month. Many...
Florida Probate: The basics of the spousal elective share
The spousal elective share in Florida can be a confusing issue in a Florida probate case. Adding to the complexity is the rare occurrence of elective share issues in Florida probate cases. Typically in a situation where the decedent (the person who died) leaves a...
Giving the Business to the Kids
The holidays is a time of year when people are most likely to make time to see each other. Families gather and spend a lot of time together. We also tend to feel our most generous around the holidays. To some people this may be the perfect time to tell their...
Florida Probate: A overview of the homestead exemption in Florida probate administration
When a loved one’s estate is involved in a Florida probate administration, you may be curious about what will happen to your loved one’s home after he or she passed away. If the home was only titled in the decedent’s (the person who passed away) name, then the...
Divorce and Florida Estate Plans: What should I know?
It's pretty common to see spouses name each other in their estate planning documents. In Florida, a married couple has the option to create joint wills together. But what happens if you and your spouse have a joint will and other estate planning documents...
More than half of Americans don’t have a will. Do you?
When planning for the future, many people tend to think about retirement, savings, and investments. While those things are important to consider and to plan for, one thing tends to get looked over a lot more often than you would think. Estate planning documents,...
What will happen to Aretha Franklin’s estate?
The passing of Aretha Franklin recently made major headline news. The “Queen of Soul” singer/song writer career spanned over decades and amassed a rather large estate. According to a reporting by Celebrity Net Worth, Ms. Franklin left behind an estate worth...
Do I need probate for Florida assets?
After you lose a loved one, there are many decisions that you need to make in order to carry out your loved one’s wishes. If your loved one had a will or owned certain assets at the time of death, such as a house, car, boat, bank accounts, or investment accounts...
Why our estate plan package is a better value than using a legal form company like LegalZoom
A common question that we receive when talking to potential clients about doing an estate plan for is “Why should I pay more to use you guys instead of LegalZoom?” This is a legitimate question. As of the date of publishing this post, LegalZoom offers an estate plan...
What you need to know about a Florida Power of attorney
When consulting with an attorney on which Florida estate planning documents you should obtain, one of the documents that is most commonly included is the durable power of attorney. While including a durable power of attorney is wise for anticipating the worst case...
What is a Florida Designation of Pre-Need Guardian?
When consulting with an attorney on the creation of estate planning documents, usually the documents that first come to mind are a Living Will, a Final Will and Testament, and a Power of Attorney. Another document that is typically included in a life or estate...
What is a notice of trust in Florida?
A notice of trust in Florida is a document that is required to be filed in the probate court in the county where the decedent (person who passed away) resided at the time of his or her death. The notice of trust is an important document and should be considered when...
The Attorney-Client Relationship
Responsibilities: What is the difference between the attorney’s responsibilities and the client’s responsibilities? Establishing a good attorney-client relationship is key to how the two of you will work together to get a goal accomplished. Work together you say? You...
What’s the difference between a will and a revocable trust?
One of the questions that we often receive from potential clients is “What is the difference between a will and a revocable trust?” Sometimes people see information online that states they should have a trust, but doesn’t really go into the specifics of the...
Interesting Issues with Anthony Bourdain’s Estate.
When a personality as popular and professionally successful as Anthony Bourdain passes, I initially think of how humanity is likely a little worse off without that person around. Shortly thereafter, I usually think “geez, I hope they had a good plan. The fight could...
Florida Probate: No Contest Clause In a Florida Will
One of the most interesting things about estate planning that people often forget is that you can say whatever you want in your will. It can be the ultimate last word. A separate question is what effect, if any, your words may have on the disposition of your estate....
The Elective Share in Florida Probate: “I Divorce Thee, I Divorce Thee, I Divorce Thee”
In Florida, getting a divorce is not as easy as simply saying “I divorce thee; I divorce thee; I divorce thee.” Similarly, disinheriting your spouse is not as easy as simply writing them out of your will. Although it is widely accepted than an individual has the...