When a deceased loved one holds assets in Florida, their estate must go through the state's probate system even if you live elsewhere. Known as ancillary probate, the process involves managing a decedent's affairs from another state. Ancillary probate applies when...
A minor child in Florida cannot simply take direct control of an inheritance. If a parent leaves assets outright to a child, the family may need a court-supervised process to manage that property until the child becomes a legal adult. A living trust allows a parent to...
When a loved one dies, beneficiaries often want answers. They may wonder what happened to the estate's money and property. They may also want to know when they will receive their inheritance. A formal estate accounting can answer many of those questions. What is a...
While making an estate plan, you may be trying to figure out the best way to leave an inheritance to a beneficiary who is chronically ill, has a disability or has some form of special needs. You want to ensure that your money can actually help them in the long term...
You can create your estate plan in such a way that you control when a person gets their inheritance. If you would like, it is possible to delay this distribution for some time after your death. For example, say that your estate plan includes a beneficiary who is 18...
Wills provide instructions regarding the distribution of a person's property after they pass. Adults in Florida generally have the legal right to draft wills clarifying their wishes and naming their beneficiaries. However, for a will to serve its purpose, it must...
An inheritance can improve a beneficiary’s quality of life and remind them of the loved one that they’ve lost for many years to come. Unfortunately, inheritances can also damage family connections. Disputes among beneficiaries can tear families apart and significantly...
It can be hard to consider a future where you cannot take care of yourself. However, age and medical conditions can make it difficult for people to make decisions in their own best interest. When drafting an estate plan, it may be crucial to include a power of...
All adults should have an estate plan in place that allows them to provide their wishes for their assets when they die. This plan does much more than that. It can also set the terms for someone to have power of attorney over that individual’s finances and their...
An A-B trust often aims to protect your assets and help ensure your loved ones can access them without the delays and costs of probate. However, even small oversights can unintentionally force parts of your estate through the probate process. There are steps to be...