Category Archives: Probate and Trust Litigation
How To Avoid Three Common Mistakes That Lead To Probate
Probate is a legal process during which the assets of a decedent are gathered and identified, the decedent’s debts are paid, and assets of the deceased are distributed to the beneficiaries. Although it is sometimes necessary, probate is a long and expensive process and it can result in family members waiting long periods of… Read More »
Three Common Signs Of Estate Mismanagement
Florida law requires all estates to be handled by a personal representative, known as the administrator or the executor of an estate. The personal representative has many duties and they hold a fiduciary position. This means they have a legal obligation to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries of the estate. Many… Read More »
Steps To Take After Being Appointed Executor
Being appointed the executor of another person’s estate is a big responsibility. An executor is the person appointed by a decedent in their last will and testament. The role of the executor is to oversee the estate as it moves through the probate process. The purpose of probate is to identify the decedent’s assets,… Read More »
How To Object To Probate
The last thing you want to deal with while grieving the loss of a loved one or close friend is the court system. Unfortunately, after someone passes away, state law requires their estate to go through probate. During probate, the deceased’s assets are distributed to parties that have a legal right to them. Probate… Read More »
Common Mistakes Made In DIY Wills
Most people in Florida should have a will. People sometimes want to save on legal fees when drafting their will and so, they find a way to do it themselves. A quick search online will provide you with many different forms available that seem fairly straightforward and easy to fill out. However, there are… Read More »
How Can Someone “Disclaim” Their Inheritance From An Estate?
Although you typically hear stories in the news about people fighting over an inheritance from a deceased relative, what about the reverse? That is, what if someone is entitled to an inheritance but does not want it? Can they legally refuse? The simple answer is “yes.” Nobody can be forced to accept a bequest… 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 »
Why You Need To Pay Attention When Changing The Beneficiaries Of Your Life Insurance Policy
Even if you have a will and a living trust, there may still be some assets that fall outside of these estate planning documents. For example, a life insurance policy is often governed by separate laws with respect to beneficiary designations. This means that even if you change the beneficiaries in your will or… Read More »
How Creditor Claims Can Lead To Years Of Probate Litigation
Although the phrase “probate litigation” is most commonly associated with legal proceedings where someone contests a will or there is a fight among the potential beneficiaries of an estate, another common source of such legal disputes is creditor claims. After all, when a person dies, they often owe other people money. If the probate… Read More »