Recent Blog Posts
Common Questions About Florida’s Elective Share Rule
An often misunderstood aspect of Florida probate administration is the “elective share” rule. The elective share is essentially a legal protection against one person completely disinheriting their spouse. The elective share basically represents the share that the surviving spouse may legally claim in the deceased spouse’s property, notwithstanding any will or revocable trust to… Read More »
What Are The Different Types Of Beneficiaries Under A Florida Will?
One of the main purposes in making a will is to name one or more beneficiaries who will receive your property after your death. Broadly speaking, there are three types of beneficiaries under a will: primary, alternate, and residuary. Here is a brief explanation of each category. Primary Beneficiaries A primary beneficiary is basically… Read More »
Should I Keep My Original Will In A Safe Deposit Box?
When it comes to probate, original is always best. That is to say, in order to open a probate estate when the decedent left a last will a testament, it is usually necessary to file the signed original document with the court. In most cases, the executor or personal representative named in the will… Read More »
How Does Bankruptcy Affect A Florida Probate Estate?
During the administration of a Florida probate estate, the personal representative (executor) is responsible for gathering the estate’s assets and paying any creditors to whom the decedent owed money. These debts and other estate administration expenses must be satisfied before any distribution is made to the estate’s beneficiaries. If there are insufficient assets to… Read More »
What Is “Disposition Without Administration” In Florida?
Probate is the formal legal process for administering the assets of a deceased individual. In Florida, there are several different methods for accomplishing probate. The first is formal administration, which is where the court appoints a personal representative to open an estate. The formal administration process typically lasts several months and is what most… Read More »
How Florida’s “Slayer Statute” Prevents Killers From Inheriting From Their Victim’s Estates
There’s a popular trope in crime fiction about a person killing their spouse “to collect the insurance money.” In reality, a person cannot inherit anything from a person that they murdered or otherwise killed in an unlawful manner. Most states, including Florida, have what is commonly called a “Slayer Statute” to prevent this sort… Read More »
What Property Is Exempt From Creditor Claims In A Probate Estate?
Debts do not necessarily die with the debtor. A decedent’s creditors may file a claim for payment against their probate estate. The estate is then normally required to pay such creditors to the extent possible from the estate’s assets after other, higher-priority expenses are paid. But not all probate assets are subject to creditor… Read More »
Can Your Health Care Surrogate Demand Your Doctors Provide Treatment Against Their Own Medical Judgment?
In 1990, the Florida Supreme Court issued a decision, In re Guardianship of Browning, which established the constitutional right of privacy extended to a person’s decision to “refuse medical treatment regardless of his or medical condition.” The Browning court specifically held that the guardian of an adult patient who was legally incompetent and suffered… Read More »
What Happens If A Business Owner Dies And Leaves A Warehouse Full Of Unsold Inventory?
Many Florida residents dream of owning and running their own business. But what these people often fail to consider is the need for business succession planning. That is, what will happen to their business if they become incapacitated or die unexpectedly? If a business is structured as a corporation, then as far as the… Read More »
How Do You Fund A Florida Revocable Living Trust?
The process of creating a revocable living trust begins with signing a trust instrument, i.e., a document spelling out the terms and conditions of the trust, including who will serve as trustee and who are the trust’s beneficiaries. But this is just the first step. Indeed, the trust instrument is little more than a… Read More »