Avoiding Undue Influence, as an Adult Child, Assisting Parent’s Estate Planning Writing a will is a process most people view as a terrible chore, but it is one that is necessary. The process may get further complicated when one spouse has already passed away and the adult children of the…
Seeking Paternity in Probate: Are You Out of Time? When an estate enters probate and is being distributed, the distribution is usually between family members. Family members can include spouse, children from the marriage, parent, adopted child, aunt, cousin, etc. If there are issues or questions about the status of…
Fiduciary Exception for Attorney-Client Privilege is Extinct in Florida If you are an attorney hired by a fiduciary, whether it be a trustee, a guardian, or a personal representative, you not only are working for the fiduciary, but you are also working for the best interests of the third party…
Foreign Property, Divorce, and Florida Probate Proceedings: Do not Assume Anything In Florida, if for some reason your marriage ends, there are some instances where your ex-spouse’s rights to inheritance under your estate plan are automatically severed. In Florida, the ex-spouse is automatically cut out of any estate planning…
What happens to Your Pets When you Pass Away? In addition to the human members of one’s families, many individuals also have animal members of their family. Because pets are so important to many families, it is often appropriate to make provision in one’s will or trust for one’s pets.…
Understanding Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Under Florida Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act Social networking, e-mail, and digital platforms are here to stay; unfortunately, we are not. Internet users must plan for the management and disposition of their assets in similar ways that they make plans for tangible property.…
Probating the Estate of a Missing Person Even more excruciating than the death of a beloved person is arguably the uncertainty when the beloved person goes missing and his or her body is never recovered. Florida laws contain rules that allow the surviving family members to complete the mourning process,…
Florida Anti-Lapse Statute When preparing a Will, it is assumed that the beneficiaries that you name will outlive you. If you expect someone to die before you, it would not make sense to leave any of your wealth and assets behind for them. However, unexpected things happen. Unfortunately, testator’s live…
Guardianship – What is it? Answer: A court intervention to safeguard the property and personal care of an individual unable to make such decisions themselves. A person under guardianship becomes a ward of the court. State law establishes the process for determining an adult’s need for guardianship, which involves a…
FLORIDA CHARITABLE TRUSTS: ALTERNATIVE BENEFICIARIES AND CY PRES DOCTRINE Due to applicable tax exemptions and tax deductions, charitable trusts are a great tool for preserving the value of your property intended for charitable purposes and for reducing taxes payable by your remaining estate (intended for purposes other than charitable ones).…