Complex Legal Challenges
People in Florida who are creating estate plans might wonder who they should appoint for certain roles in a plan, including the executor and trustee if needed. Executors and trustees do not need to be experts in legal issues or finance, but they should have a good...
Each year, individuals in Florida and across the United States become injured by dangerous or defective products. Product liability law refers to a set of legal rules that determine who is responsible for creating a dangerous or defective product so the injured party...
When a person dies without a will in Florida, that person’s assets will be passed to the person’s spouse and/or family members in accordance with Florida law. When someone does have a will, that will must be filed in probate court before any assets are distributed,...
Assets that are left in a Florida resident's estate after he or she passes may be subject to probate. The goal of a probate proceeding is to validate a will or answer questions as to who has the strongest claim to receive some or all of a deceased person's estate. If...
Let’s face it, doing one’s estate planning isn’t something most people are excited about doing. It’s often easier to put it off and leave it for another day. Most people we talk to about their estate planning admit that it has been something about which they have...
As the population of Florida continues to age and the responsibility for the care and estate planning tend to fall on that population, their children, or their grandchildren, estate planning is necessary. Dementia-causing diseases result in the patient's inability to...
Every year since 2015, Florida has ranked No. 1 when it comes to the number of recreational boating accidents and on-the-water deaths. The U.S. Coast Guard has also reported that the Florida Keys see the highest number of these incidents in the state. In its 2019...
When a person dies resident in Florida, a formal probate estate is often required. In a formal probate, the probate court appoints a “Personal Representative.” Some people refer to this person as the “Executor” but the correct name in Florida is Personal...
Beneficiary designations may be a part of many people's Florida estate plans. Retirement accounts and life insurance policies are the assets most commonly passed using this form, and they are filled out when people set up the accounts or purchase the policy....
Florida’s new electronic Wills provisions become effective on July 1, 2020. This will mean that individuals who wish to sign their Will electronically can do so and the Wills will have the same force and effect as a traditional Will. To understand the importance of...